Biography
Kelly Connell is a passionate band director with over 12 years of experience teaching at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. She is currently a Band Director at Conroe ISD in Texas.
Kelly’s career has been enriched by a diverse range of experiences, from teaching in a small inner-city charter school in western Massachusetts to directing one of the most significant, competitive, and well-supported music education communities in the United States. All of Kelly’s experiences have informed her directing style. She is a passionate educator and advocate for music education, believing that music can be a powerful force for good in the world.
Kelly has a reputation for leading students to consistent success at festivals, competitions, and evaluations. Every band under her direction has earned superior ratings at UIL Concert and Sightreading Evaluation. Her students have consistently won top honors at local, regional, state, and national festivals. Kelly’s students’ success is partly due to her flexible teaching style and knowledge of instrumental and ensemble pedagogy. She pushes her students to be their best and creates a supportive and encouraging environment where they can excel and have fun. She has been recognized for her teaching and leadership, receiving numerous awards and honors, including Recognized Designation through the Texas Teacher Incentive Allotment (2024) and Aldine ISD Teacher of the Year award (2018). Voyage Houston and ShoutOut HTX recently interviewed her for her work.
In addition to her teaching duties, Kelly is an active clinician and adjudicator. Kelly collaborates with other band programs on various topics, including band rehearsal techniques, instrument pedagogy, curriculum pacing, and rehearsal management. She has researched and presented work on several music education topics, including band director burnout, flute pedagogy, and music literacy in the beginner and intermediate band curriculum.
Kelly believes the baton should be passed, not guarded! She views mentorship as a partnership, not a hierarchy. With experience collaborating with young and novice band directors across Houston, she is dedicated to helping her colleagues thrive. Together, she and her fellow directors collaborate to discuss professional challenges, unlock creative potential, and build a more supportive and equitable future for music education in an ever-changing world.
She received her bachelor’s degree in music education with an instrumental emphasis and certification in urban education from the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio, as well as her bachelor’s degree in human rights with a minor in philosophy and honors. She also holds a Master’s in Music Education from the American Band College at Central Washington University in Ashland, Oregon. She is a National Board-certified teacher in Music, Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood, and band.
Kelly’s approach to band directing blends Texas-inspired fundamentals, music literacy, and precision with infusions of playfulness, intentionally selected repertoire, and the utilization of Music to connect students, the world, and beyond.