Kensey Chellis

Pre-College
  • Trombone
Kensey Chellis photo

Contact

Departments

Pre-College

Education

PSD Orchestral Trombone, San Francisco Conservatory of Music

MM Trombone Performance, DePaul University

BM Trombone Performance, University of Dayton

Ensembles

Boise Philharmonic, Second Trombone (2011-2016, tenured)

Sub, various regional orchestras including San Francisco Symphony (2012-present)

Sub, Hawaii Symphony and Hawaii Opera Theatre (2019-present)

Q&A

What is your hometown?

Pickerington, Ohio

What is your favorite recording? Why?

SFS Alpine Symphony, Herbert Blomstedt 1990. It takes me to another place. 

What are you passionate about outside of music?

Coffee, nature, and dogs 

Who were your major teachers?

Paul Welcomer, Mark Fisher, Tim Anderson

What is a favorite quote that you repeatedly tell students?

Time beats talent when talent doesn't work hard. 

Practice fast, learn slow. Practice slow, learn fast.

What was a turning point in your career?

Performing Bruckner's 3rd Symphony with SFS and Blomstedt

If you weren't a musician or teacher, what do you think you would be doing now?

Physical therapist or tour boat captain in Hawaii

What is your daily practice routine?

It changes based on my goals, but usually long tones, lip slurs, scales, singing, music

If you could play only three composers for the rest of your life, who would they be?

Bach, Puccini, Higdon

What is your unrealized project?

Publishing my trombone manual and method book I wrote during the pandemic.

Please list your most important collaborations.

San Francisco Trombone Ensemble, Monarch Brass Ensemble

Please list your top awards and distinctions.

Music Academy of the West Fellowship
Two-time Concerto/Aria Winner and Chicago tour soloist

What recordings can we hear you on?

The Family Crest "William's Dirge" from 'Beneath the Brine' (2014)
The Family Crest "Home for Christmas" on Bandcamp

Biography

Kensey Chellis is a professional musician and teaching artist based in the San Francisco Bay Area. An in-demand trombonist, Kensey performs regularly in orchestral, chamber, opera, and pit orchestra settings. In the orchestral arena, they have had the distinct privilege of working under the batons of MTT, Herbert Blomstedt, Edwin Outwater, Eun Sun Kim, Rei Hotoda and many others. On numerous occasions, they have played with the San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Opera, Hawaii Symphony Orchestra, and Hawaii Opera Theatre as well as most Bay Area regional orchestras. From 2011-2016, Kensey held the Second Trombone chair with the Boise Philharmonic Orchestra under Robert Franz, receiving tenure in 2013.

As a teaching artist, Kensey enjoys the process of problem-solving in collaboration with their diverse studio. They are excellent at tailoring music instruction to help students achieve their goals. Their middle and high school students have earned top chairs in California All-State Wind Ensembles and Jazz Bands, Santa Clara County Honor Band, as well as Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps, The Ohio State Marching Band, and collegiate level music programs.

As a student, Kensey earned prestigious fellowships to Brevard Music Center and Music Academy of the West. During undergraduate, they were a two-time winner of the University of Dayton Concerto/Aria Contest and were a featured soloist on tour in Chicago. Born and raised in central Ohio, Kensey is an enduring Buckeye football fan. They enjoy hiking and exploring the California coast with their wife, Shannon and rescue dog, Dash.