Choir Baton

71. Making Music Education for Everyone: An Interview with Kelsey Burkett

February 01, 2021 Beth Philemon
Choir Baton
71. Making Music Education for Everyone: An Interview with Kelsey Burkett
Show Notes

This is an interview with my dear friend, Kelsey Burkett. Over the past few years, I have been fortunate to have a lot of good, productive, and hard conversations about race, equity, and white privilege with Kelsey and we dive more into these conversations in the episode.

Raised in Solon, OH, Kelsey D. Burkett is a 2006 Graduate of Capital University, where she majored in Music Education and served as the alto section leader in the renown Chapel Choir.  She completed her Masters of Music in Music Education and Kodaly Certification from Capital University in 2019. In her 15th year of teaching, she has a passion for the developing voice and middle school singers. She serves as the Director of Choirs at Hilliard Memorial Middle School, where she directs the 7th Grade Treble Choir, 8th Grade Treble Choir, and Blue Notes.  She also serves as co-director of Bradley High School’s premier Contemporary A Cappella Group, Shades of Blue, who recently went viral on TikTok with over 400,000 views of their multiple arrangements of pop hits.
Choirs under her direction have consistently received Superior and Excellent ratings and Grand Championships at the District, State, and National Contest levels.    In June 2016, the MMS Choirs made their Carnegie Hall Debut as a part of the Songs of Inspiration and Hope Concert under the director of Mrs. Lori Loftus. Most recently, Ms. Burkett has been spurred to be a warrior for Social Justice within her community, and recently co-founded the Hilliard BIPOC Alliance, for her coworkers of color within the Hilliard City School District, working for change within and outside of their classrooms.
Ms. Burkett maintains an active singing career, performing with professional ensembles around the city of Columbus.  She lives in Columbus with her daughter, Harper, and their cat, Phil.

You can connect with Kelsey on
Instagram: @biracialchoirunicorn
Twitter: @shadesofblueacappella
or at https://www.hilliardschools.org/music/

Choir Baton Podcast Producer: Maggie Hemedinger
Music by: Scott Holmes

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Choir Baton Podcast Producer: Maggie Hemedinger
Music by: Scott Holmes

Follow @ChoirBaton on
Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Facebook
Visit ChoirBaton.com

Follow @BethPhilemon on
Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Facebook | LinkedIn
Visit BethPhilemon.com