Location:
Kendall, Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, Westchester
Instrument:
Voice, Piano, Flute/Piccolo, Violin, Guitar, Ukulele
Background:
Kelly has been cultivating her passion for teaching over the span of 10 years. She has taught in several music schools around South Florida including a few MDCPS elementary schools. She has experience working with children at the elementary school level all the way to high school and into adulthood. Kelly has had much success with preparing students for auditions and performances for different occasions. She has also worked with Grammy award winning artists such as Guillermo Vadala and Gene Paul, the writers and performers of the music from Disney’s Encanto at Let it Beat Music Academy. There, she was chosen to be an Abbey Road certified teacher and has worked with students preparing them to be future performers and solo recording artists. She is fluent in English and Spanish and enjoys working with students of various backgrounds to help them flourish and grow their own love of music.
Started Music Career:
Kelly was a mere 3 months when her parents first discovered that she had an affinity to music. Whenever they’d turn down any music, she would cry. But whenever the music was on, she would calm down and fall asleep! Later, she would go on to learn how to play violin and flute in middle school. She enjoyed helping her peers so much in class that when she went on to high school, she would go after school to her middle school to teach the beginning band students. Throughout her high school years, she started and implemented a jazz band program and was leader and drum major of her school’s marching band. They placed Top 10 in the 2013-2014 FMBC competition. She has graduated with honors and went on to study at FIU with a full ride and enjoys performing with her jazz peers in Miami.
Education:
Kelly is pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Music Education with a principle in Jazz Voice. She is currently a senior student and is eager to return for a Master’s in Jazz Performance when she graduates.
Area of Focus:
Jazz Voice, Jazz Performance, Vocal Pedagogy, Harmony and Ear-training, A cappella, Piano studies, Music Theory, Improvisation
Favorite Aspect of Teaching:
Kelly finds herself constantly in awe of her student’s successes. The joy on their face when they achieve a goal of playing a song with minimal to no mistakes is priceless. Kelly believes that any child can learn how to play an instrument or sing and that every child should have access to the enrichment music provides. She prides herself in making sure her students are not only learning, but also having fun and finding excitement out of their instruments.
Performance:
Kelly has performed in various symphonies and wind ensemble groups in Miami. She has also performed vocally with the FIU Jazz Vocal Ensemble. She was chosen by her professor to join the elite Panthonics vocal group which is made up of only 6 members who are all pursuing a Master of Music degree. To be an undergraduate student within this advanced group is an honor and an achievement. This group focuses on highly challenging vocal jazz arrangements with difficult harmonies. One of Kelly’s favorite performance opportunities has been to be able to record with her favorite vocal group, Voctave, who is known for singing gorgeous arrangements of Disney music and often perform at Disney Parks. She won a vocal competition where she was awarded the chance to record and sing with the group on the “Corner of Broadway and Main Street Vol.2” album. She is singing Soprano in the tune “You Will Be Found” and her name can be found on the CD. Recently in 2021, she worked and performed with Latin Grammy award winner Tony Succar and 19 Grammy award winner Emilio Estefan to sing and record the Cuban National anthem. It is the first time the Cuban National anthem has ever been recorded in the U.S. and it made history. She is eager to continue performing and to inspire her students to find performance opportunities within the community.
