Kellie Clark is in her twenty-first year as a choral music educator. Her teaching tenure has included appointments at Kennesaw State University, Eastern Illinois University, Randall K. Cooper High School in Union KY and middle school positions in the Boone County and Grant County school systems. She holds a bachelor of music education degree in K-12 vocal music from Morehead State University, a master’s degree in vocal performance from Miami University, OH, and is currently completing her doctorate in choral conducting at the University of Kentucky. Under her direction, Ms. Clark’s choirs have performed at the Cincinnati Museum Center, Cincinnati Women’s Initiative Conference, Saengerfest Choral Festival, Chicago Worldstrides Heritage Festival and the 2016 Kentucky Music Educator’s Conference as well as regular appearances at the KY state choral performance assessment. In addition, Ms. Clark has coached numerous students for admission to all-state choirs, solo and ensemble events and the Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts. Her personal accomplishments include the C3 Award of Excellence in Education and selection as 2018 Kentucky Teacher of the Year.
Throughout her career, Ms. Clark has sought creative ways to challenge and engage students through vocal music. The learning in Ms. Clark’s classroom transcends the strictly musical. She embraces a multidisciplinary approach to performance in which students are consistently pushed to go beyond the sheet music. Additionally, she values the safe space she creates for her students to fearlessly engage in creative expression and encourages them to always expect the best from one another, to seriously consider multiple perspectives, and to spend time uncovering the historical and socio-political motivations of the artists they are studying. The development of this nurturing and immersive environment has become her greatest asset as an educator.
Ms. Clark is thrilled to join the staff at Starr’s Mill High School for the 2023-2024 school year and looks forward to continuing the well established tradition of choral excellence in Fayette County!