Patricia Kelly to Perform Final Concert as String Orchestra Conductor

After a 28-year tenure, Patricia Kelly will perform her final concert as String Orchestra Conductor on April 27, 2025.

Since 1997, the Minnesota Youth Symphonies has had the good fortune to have Patricia Kelly as the director of the String Orchestra. For hundreds and perhaps thousands of MYS students and families, Ms. Kelly has been the person who has welcomed them into the fold, which she has done with boundless warmth, humor, and humanity. Ms. Kelly is passionate about making music accessible and enjoyable for students from diverse backgrounds. With a remarkable ability to blend high expectations and expert pedagogy with age-appropriate instruction and her captivating personality, she has inspired generations of young musicians.

Ms. Kelly grew up in St. Cloud, Minnesota, which she says was then considered “a big ‘small town.’” From an early age she was drawn to music, and was fortunate to study with great teachers in the area, taking viola lessons with James Strang and piano lessons with Shyrl Strang. They encouraged her to study piano with Dr. Ibis from St. John’s University and to join the newly-formed St. Cloud Civic Orchestra. There, as a high schooler, she found herself playing Mahler alongside seasoned orchestra teachers and St. Cloud State professors. “I was lucky they let me in,” she recalls. “I’m sure it was because they needed more violists—as usual!”

After earning a BA in Music and Journalism from the St. Catherine University, Ms. Kelly completed a Masters Degree and Doctoral Studies at the University of Minnesota. “I loved music and loved teaching it from the very beginning.” Her student teaching experience with James Berg in Robbinsdale Public Schools left a lasting impact. “He taught me how to study a score and demand excellence. He practiced tough love and always loved a good joke. I follow his philosophy.”

Pat’s teaching influence extends far beyond MYS. She has taught and conducted at all levels, from the Bethel University Philharmonic Orchestra and Chamber Strings to first graders at Ramsey International Fine Arts Center. A tireless advocate for music education, she co-founded the MNSOTA Middle Level Orchestra Festival in 1996 and has hosted music luminaries such as Yo Yo Ma, Ray Brown, and Bobby McFerrin. 

She is very proud to have founded the RAS Orchestra Foundation during her time as the Roseville High School Orchestra Director. Currently a member of the Board, this foundation is alive and well and raises money to help students pay for private lessons, summer camps and college scholarships. Her impact on the Twin Cities orchestral community has earned her numerous accolades, including the Minnesota Master String Educator Award in 1998, the Outstanding School Orchestra Program from the American String Teachers Association, Teacher of the Year nominee, and Minnesota Public Radio’s 2015 Music Teacher Award.

As a professional performer, Ms. Kelly has been the violist in the Lexington Quartet since 1998 and also performs as a freelance conductor and violist. As an amateur ethnomusicologist Pat has always enjoyed performing music from around the world. She played in the African Music Ensemble with Sowah Mensa for seven years, learned the Chinese erhu, studied Hmong expressive sound as a graduate student and currently plays with the Northwoods Tango Orchestra!

Reflecting on her time with MYS, Ms. Kelly shares, “Saturday mornings have been my ‘happy place’ for 28 years. It has always been a place of healing, caring, creativity, humor, serious music making and hugs. I have always felt the love in this place from colleagues, parents and students. I will miss it and I have been blessed.”

Pat’s hope for students in String Orchestra is to leave feeling happy, seen, and respected, with the motivation to keep playing for the rest of their lives. She recalls the quote by Maya Angelou: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” In her role as String Orchestra Conductor, she has, quite literally, changed and improved the lives of countless young people. At the heart of her work (and it's a big, big heart) is a deep, joyful love of music and its power to unite and transform communities for the better. 

Ms. Kelly would like readers to know this about her String Orchestra: “Remember that these young players grow up. They are our future and we are in good hands.” Pat, on behalf of everyone whose music-making has been touched by your work at MYS, we thank you, and wish you congratulations on a remarkable, transformative tenure!