Phone: (936) 261-3189
Email: drkelley@pvamu.edu
Dr. Kelley, Endowed Professor of Fine Arts and faculty member of the Department of Music and Theatre, received his undergraduate degree in Music from Prairie View A&M University where he was a pupil of the late Connally S. Garrett and Albert Hirsh of the piano faculty of the University of Houston. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the US Army, whereupon he was assigned to Headquarters, Department of the Army, Washington, D.C.
Dr. Kelley received both the Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the Peabody Conservatory of Music of the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland. His initial appointment to the Prairie View A&M University faculty was as Coordinator of Keyboard Studies. Subsequent to that, he served a Head of the Department of Music and Theatre until his appointment as Dean of the Brailsford College of Arts and Sciences (2004-2021). Dr. Kelley has performed extensively as a solo artist at many universities throughout the United States, and in the Caribbean and Europe, to critical acclaim. He has performed as soloist with the San Antonio Youth Symphony, the Hopkins-Peabody Chamber Orchestra, and Houston Symphony North. He appeared with the Houston Symphony in Jones Hall, performing the Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor, celebrating the 125th anniversary of the founding of Prairie View A&M University. He performed a dedication concert upon Prairie View’s designation as an all-Steinway school. Subsequent to that, he performed at Steinway Hall, NY City. He remains in high demand as concert artist and adjudicator.