FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Indiana University Jacobs School of Music is pleased to announce the appointment of Ryan Kelly as associate dean for academic affairs and student success and associate professor of music in bands, effective Aug. 1, pending approval of the IU Board of Trustees. He is the first appointee to this new position.
A wind conductor, Kelly is currently associate director of the Butler School of Music at The University of Texas at Austin, where he is also associate director of bands and associate professor of practice in conducting. Prior to joining the Butler faculty, he was associate director of bands and director of athletic bands at the University of Central Florida, where he served as director of the Marching Knights, conducted the Symphonic Band and taught courses in music education.
“Ryan has the breadth and depth of collaborative experience to work in this new, cross-channel role,” said Abra Bush, David Henry Jacobs Bicentennial Dean. “We are very excited that he will be coming to Jacobs to fulfill this newly created position focusing on our students.”
As an arranger, Kelly has collaborated with Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Kevin Puts and Grammy-nominated composer Adam Schoenberg to transcribe, premiere and publish their music for wind ensemble.
Kelly conducts all-state and regional honor bands throughout the United States, and during the summers, he teaches on the faculty of the World Youth Wind Orchestra Project as part of the Mid-Europe Festival in Schladming, Austria.
As a researcher and author, Kelly has published articles in Research Perspectives in Music Education, Florida Music Director and Southwestern Musician. Hailing from northern Virginia, he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music education from Florida State University and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in conducting from The University of Texas at Austin.
He has previously served as chair of the Social Media Committee for the College Band Directors National Association, secretary for the Big 12 Band Directors Association and a member of the board of directors for the Florida Music Educators Association.
“We are thrilled that such a talented artist and teacher will be joining the Jacobs School administration,” said Eric Smedley, Department of Bands chair. “Ryan Kelly will be an outstanding resource for the students of the Jacobs School of Music, and the Department of Bands is proud to be his faculty home. We look forward to working on future projects with him.”
The position of associate dean for academic affairs and student success at the Jacobs School of Music was created for the purpose of evaluating and supporting academic programs, new degrees and curricular initiatives, and matters of accreditation. It is also responsible for providing oversight and strategic direction to enhance both undergraduate and graduate student success, working to close the equity gap for underrepresented students and overseeing health and wellness initiatives for students.