Audition Requirements

About the 2026 Guest Director

Katrina Kelly grew up in New Hampshire where influenced by her musical family, she chose to play the viola in 4th grade. She continued studying and performing on the viola through her middle and high school years. In high school she was selected for all-state all four years and she began running her high school orchestra rehearsals. Kelly attended Ithaca College for her undergrad where she double majored in music education and music performance. She studied with violist,Debra Moree. During her college summers she participated in multiple camps and performing ensembles. In the summer between her senior year in high school and freshman year of college, Kelly attended the Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan on a full scholarship. The following summer she performed Gilbert and Sullivan productions with the Ohio Light Opera Company. Another summer she landed a scholarship program with the National Symphony. During her college years she was exposed to and worked with various string professionals including, Robert Gillespie and Patricia McCarty. She was principal violist for Ithaca’s chamber orchestra and symphony orchestra her junior and senior years.

    After college, Mrs. Kelly began her teaching career working in the Hollidaysburg Area School District in Hollidaysburg, PA as a junior high orchestra director. Since 2000, Mrs. Kelly has worked in the West Chester Area School District in West Chester, PA as a middle and now high school orchestra director. She conducted the WCASD Select Strings Orchestra, which earned many honors during her tenure including being selected to perform at the state music conference four times. Mrs. Kelly now directs the WCASD Senior Strings Orchestra and was pleased to be selected to perform at the 2022 PMEA Conference in the Poconos. In addition to her PMEA appearances, Mrs. Kelly has been active in the PMEA organization, hosting various string fests and presenting string sessions at the fall in services. Mrs. Kelly serves on the PMEA board as a member of the D12 Fall Inservice Committee. She conducted the PMEA 5/6 String Fest in 2011. In 2023, Mrs. Kelly hosted the PMEA Region 6 Orchestra Festival in her district. Mrs. Kelly earned her Master’s Degree in Orchestral Conducting from Messiah University in Grantham, PA in 2019.

    Besides teaching in the WCASD, Mrs. Kelly, directs the Chester County Youth Orchestra. She often performs with various local ensembles including the Kennett Symphony, Berks Sinfonietta, the WCU Choral Ensembles and various other community/church ensembles throughout the area. She lives in West Chester and enjoys spending time with her husband, Martin and their three children, Katie, Bryce and Addie. She loves to read, hike, and is grateful to have a job that she truly loves.

Click here for the 2025-26 Senior County Orchestra Roster - thanks to all who auditioned, and congratulations!