William J. Kelley (b. 1992) an American pianist, conductor, and composer, has been described as a “versatile virtuoso” for his broad interests and capabilities as an artist.
Kelley is currently the music director and principal conductor of the North State Chamber Orchestra as well as an active soloist and collaborative artist with regular performances both on the podium and at the keyboard.
In 2011, Kelley studied with Natalya Antonova and Bruce Brubaker at the Atlantic Music Festival in Waterville, Maine. While in residence at AMF, he premiered the work Scenic Route for solo piano by composer, Zach Stanton. An advocate for new music, Kelley has premiered numerous works both at the keyboard and on the podium. His most recent collaborations have included performances of ensemble and chamber music by composers in the UNCG Composition Studio.
As a collaborative pianist, Kelley has worked with artists such as Carla Rae Cook, Arlene Shrut, and Nic Muni. He also coaches regularly with Inara Zandmane and James Douglass at UNCG. Kelley gives numerous recitals each year with both vocalists and instrumentalists and has accompanied prize winning soloists in the Met Opera Competition and MTNA Regional Competition, NFMC State Competition, UNCG Young Artists Competition as well as masterclasses with Frederica von Stade and Carla Rae Cook. Kelley also performs regularly as a chamber musician, currently, with the Gate City Trio (Galen Tim, violin, Hamin Kim, cello, William J. Kelley, piano) and was recently featured with violinist, Ariana Kim and percussionist, Greg Jukes in a performance of Lou Harrison’s Varied Trio on the Atlantic Music Festival’s Salon Concert Series.
In 2012, Kelley led the North State Chamber Orchestra in its Inaugural Concert as music director and principal conductor. The orchestra is the newest, large performing ensemble in central North Carolina. It offers opportunities for professionals and amateurs alike to present orchestral and chamber music to varied audiences throughout central North Carolina.
In 2013, The NSCO began the Eastern Burlington Outreach Program, a program designed to bring almost a hundred high school orchestra students from across Alamance County together for concerts with NSCO. The concerts are free and hosted at venues that are accessible for all members of the community.
Kelley began studying piano at the age of 8 and has since developed into a mature and resonant artist. Like many musicians of past and present, Kelley’s professional career began in the church when he was hired as music director at age 15. His early training included the study of jazz and popular music leading to numerous music director and assistant music director positions in musical theater productions before graduating high school.
Kelley is pursuing a degree in piano performance on scholarship at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro under the tutelage of Dr. John Salmon. His previous teachers include Victor Recondo, pupil of Vladimir Horowitz, and Margaret Ann Fambrough; he has performed in master classes with Gerard Schwartz, Pascal Rogé, Natalya Antonova, Bruce Brubaker, and Jaques Despres. During the summers Kelley has studied at the Atlantic Music Festival (2011), the Conductors Institute at the University of South Carolina (2012), and in 2012 and 2013, the Internationale Sommerakadamie at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria under Robert Levin and Conrad Jarnot.
Kelley studies conducting with Tonu Kalam and previously with Jack M. Jarrett. He has coached with Peter Jaffe, Donald Portnoy, and Paul Vermel at the Conductor’s Institute of South Carolina.
William J. Kelley is a member of the Conductor’s Guild.
Enlightenment 