East Studio Building, JS406
Ryan Kelly is the inaugural associate dean for academic affairs and student success at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where he is also associate professor of music in bands. In his associate dean’s role, he provides oversight and strategic direction for curriculum and academic programs, student health and wellness, career readiness, and accreditation.
Kelly was previously associate director of the Butler School of Music and associate director of bands at The University of Texas (UT) at Austin, where he conducted the Wind Symphony and New Music Ensemble, taught graduate and undergraduate conducting, and served as director of Longhorn Music Camp. Before joining the UT faculty, he taught at the University of Central Florida and was a high school band director in Lakeland and Tallahassee, Florida.
Kelly remains an active guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator. He conducts all-state and regional honor bands throughout the United States and in summers, teaches on the faculty of the World Youth Wind Orchestra Project as part of the Mid-Europe Wind Band Festival in Schladming, Austria.
As an arranger, he has collaborated with Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Kevin Puts and Emmy Award-winning composer Adam Schoenberg to transcribe, premiere, and publish their music for wind ensemble. As a researcher and author, Kelly has published articles in Research Perspectives in Music Education, Florida Music Director, and Southwestern Musician.
Kelly has presented at the state music conferences of Texas, Florida, and Ohio, the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) Biennial National Conference, and the CBDNA Athletic Band Symposium. While residing in Austin, he curated and hosted a weekly radio show on KMFA Classical 89.5, Austin’s classical radio station, featuring performances from UT students and faculty.
Kelly is an elected member of the American Bandmasters Association and holds professional affiliations with CBDNA, the College Music Society, Kappa Kappa Psi, and Tau Beta Sigma. He was previously chair of the Social Media Committee for CBDNA, secretary for the Big 12 Band Directors Association, and a member of the board of directors for the Florida Music Educators Association.
A native of northern Virginia, Kelly earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music education from Florida State University and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting degree from The University of Texas at Austin.