Kelly D. Hershey, Director of bands for The Center for the Performing and Visual Arts

Kelly D. Hershey currently serves as director of bands for The Center for the Performing and Visual Arts; Broad Ripple High School, Indianapolis, Indiana. Mrs. Hershey attended Florida State University receiving a Bachelor of Music Education in 1999. She studied instrumental conducting under Dr. James Croft and Dr. Patrick Dunnigan, and choral conducting under Dr. Andre Thomas. Kelly attributes her educational methodologies and instructional pedagogy to the talents of Dr. Michael Allen, Professor of Music Education and co-author of Essential Elements for Strings; FSU. Mrs. Hershey studied Oboe with Dr. Eric Ohlsson. Kelly served as the first female Administrative Coordinator of "Big 8;" FSU Marching Chiefs drum line in 1996 and served as Drum Major for the Marching Chiefs in '97.

Under Mrs. Hershey's instruction, the Broad Ripple High School band program has transformed from 17 to 75 in four years. She instructs Piano, Percussion, Jazz Band, Symphonic Band, and Marching Band. The "Spirit of Broad Ripple" has won three consecutive IPS Championships starting with their very first win in 2006.

Through her experiences teaching in the inner city, Hershey has developed a niche for urban youth instruction through music --"Keeping it real" works. Finding and pragmatically measuring success for her students has brought her to the forefront of a movement toward a broader audience.

Mrs. Hershey is pioneering a vision for colleges and universities to provide specialized undergraduate instruction to develop future Urban Music Educators, at the same time providing continuing education opportunities and professional development for present music educators. This will inevitably increase knowledge and security in a potentially foreign teaching assignment and cultivate equitable respect between colleagues in all areas of instruction regardless of rural, urban, or suburban demographics. Kelly is an adjudicator for the Indiana State School Music Association, and an active member of Indiana Bandmasters Association, Indiana Music Educators Association, Music Educators National Conference, and Tau Beta Sigma honorary band fraternity.