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 21st 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 A Cappella. Her time in Hilliard also included founding the Jaguar A Cappella program, which boasts four contemporary a cappella groups, including Shades of Blue A Cappella, who were the ICHSA National Champions in 2023 and runners-up in 2025. In 2026, she will begin teaching with the Cincinnati Youth Choir and serve as the President-Elect for the ACDA Midwestern Region.
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. In Summer of 2018, the MMS 8th Grade Treble Choir performed for the Ohio Choral Directors Association Summer Conference at Otterbein University. In 2021 and 2025, the 8th Grade Treble Choir was invited to perform at the Ohio Music Education Professional Development Conference and is considered one of the most outstanding middle school choirs in the state of Ohio.
In March 2020, she was awarded the 2020 Country Music Association Foundation’s Music Teachers of Excellence, one of only 10 teachers across the United States.
Mrs. Burkett maintains an active singing career, performing with professional ensembles around the city of Columbus. She is a member of the American Choral Directors Association, Ohio Music Education Association, and the Organization of American Kodaly Educators. Above all her professional accomplishments, her greatest joy is being mom to 7-year-old Harper, wife to Jen, and dog/cat mom to Biscuit and Phil.
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