Dr. Ryan Kelly
I spent my early years in the Chicagoland suburbs, in a Christian family, worshiping at a PCA church, studying music, and rooting for the Chicago Cubs. Our family moved to Texas, just north of Houston. I finished grade school there and gradually grew in my desire to pursue education and ministry as my vocation. I studied organ and church music at Houston Baptist University, earned a master's degree in choral conducting from the University of Oklahoma, taught collegiate music in East Texas, and completed my doctorate of musical arts in choral conducting from Michigan State University. Throughout these years, I served in various music ministry roles at churches in TX, OK, and MI.
In 2012, I started a full-time position as a professor of choral music at West Chester University of Pennsylvania and part-time work in the music ministry at Proclamation. As the director of Proclamation's music ministry, I love worship planning, music-making with our musicians, leading our worshipers in weekly song, and seeing our congregation grow in their love for the Lord. I am passionate about this: that music ministry is not a hobby for those they enjoy it, nor simply an offering to the Lord or others, but rather it is an ecclesiastical means of pursuing the Great Commission. As music ministry leaders, whether the advanced flutist, beginning bell ringer, or the amateur but enthusiastic choir member, we have a holy and privileged calling, that of discipling others toward fervent musical worship. I am humbled to lead our music ministry leaders in this way at Proclamation.
I am married to Noelle, who home schools our three children, Julianne, Kathleen, and Natalie. We live in Broomall, spend a lot of time outdoors, and enjoy sharing life with our church family in many ways beyond worship. My love for Chicago Cubs baseball has never waned (it never will), and our summers are often filled with backyard baseball with the kids and league softball with men from Proclamation. Of course, my full time work at the university means I'm regularly teaching young music educators the ins and outs of vocal and conducting technique, as well as personally conducting concerts in evenings.
My favorite hymn is Wesley's Love Divine, All Loves Excelling (sung to HYFRYDOL exclusively!). The hymn closed our wedding ceremony, and is part of a service in almost every Advent season I plan. It is an intense hymn, recognizing our utter helplessness and need for salvation, repenting of sin, crying out for deliverance from pain, and requesting God for his holiness. Each stanza is an exercise in obedience, as we repeat our desire to be found by Christ, delivered by Christ, transformed by Christ, and kept in Christ. It's a hymn I never tire of singing and sharing with others.
In 2012, I started a full-time position as a professor of choral music at West Chester University of Pennsylvania and part-time work in the music ministry at Proclamation. As the director of Proclamation's music ministry, I love worship planning, music-making with our musicians, leading our worshipers in weekly song, and seeing our congregation grow in their love for the Lord. I am passionate about this: that music ministry is not a hobby for those they enjoy it, nor simply an offering to the Lord or others, but rather it is an ecclesiastical means of pursuing the Great Commission. As music ministry leaders, whether the advanced flutist, beginning bell ringer, or the amateur but enthusiastic choir member, we have a holy and privileged calling, that of discipling others toward fervent musical worship. I am humbled to lead our music ministry leaders in this way at Proclamation.
I am married to Noelle, who home schools our three children, Julianne, Kathleen, and Natalie. We live in Broomall, spend a lot of time outdoors, and enjoy sharing life with our church family in many ways beyond worship. My love for Chicago Cubs baseball has never waned (it never will), and our summers are often filled with backyard baseball with the kids and league softball with men from Proclamation. Of course, my full time work at the university means I'm regularly teaching young music educators the ins and outs of vocal and conducting technique, as well as personally conducting concerts in evenings.
My favorite hymn is Wesley's Love Divine, All Loves Excelling (sung to HYFRYDOL exclusively!). The hymn closed our wedding ceremony, and is part of a service in almost every Advent season I plan. It is an intense hymn, recognizing our utter helplessness and need for salvation, repenting of sin, crying out for deliverance from pain, and requesting God for his holiness. Each stanza is an exercise in obedience, as we repeat our desire to be found by Christ, delivered by Christ, transformed by Christ, and kept in Christ. It's a hymn I never tire of singing and sharing with others.