Revered Rosa E. Kelly is in her 32nd year of teaching as the orchestra director at LW Conder Elementary Arts Integrated Magnet School in Richland 2.  Rev. Kelly earned her bachelor’s degree in music and education from the University of South Carolina (USC). She earned her Master’s degree certificate in violin/viola performance from USC. During her masters studies she decided to attain her Master’s plus 30 degree in special education (EMD). Rev. Kelly also earned her Master’s of Divinity degree from Columbia International University. She has also attended numerous music institutes and summer intensives. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Ministry  from Columbia International University. Rev. Kelly is an ordained Itinerant Elder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church where she is the current pastor of Hannah AME Church, Newberry, SC.

 

Rev. Kelly is an avid violin and viola player who has been performing since the age of 8. She began playing in Charleston county under the tutelage of Davis and Anne Ezall. Her most memorable performances involve competing and seeing warm smiles on the faces of her students after their performances. Rev. Kelly is also a progressive composer writing works to captivate the hearts and minds of young musicians. She is actively involved in church and enjoys spending time with her family.

 

Rev. Kelly is a member of The National Association for Music Education (NAfme), American String Teachers Association (ASTA), and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated.  Rev. Kelly Kelly has established and enlarged numerous string programs to include Williamsburg County School,  Richland One (Webber Elementary, Mill Creek Elementary, Horrell Hill Elementary,  Gadsden Elementary, Hopkins Elementary, South East Middle, WA Perry Middle, and CA Johnson Preparatory Academy),  Darlington County and  Beaufort County Schools. She has made appearances as a  guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator in SC Solo and Ensemble Festivals, District Orchestras, and Concert Performance Assessments in  Florence, Darlington, Spartanburg, Charleston, Orangeburg,  Hilton hHead, Beaufort, Columbia, and Rockhill. She pioneered the full string orchestra program at LW Conder Art Integrated Magnet to be the first in the state of South Carolina to include them in Concert Performance Assessment and Solo and Ensemble Festival.  She was an adjunct professor at Coker College and Claflin University instructing undergraduate music education majors in music.

 

Rev. Kelly is the daughter of the late Dorothy Jean and Harold Kelly,Sr. She currently resides in Columbia. She has three young adult children and six grandchildren.