About Ms. McKinney

Kelly McKinney grew up in Brooks, GA and attended schools in Fayette County. At McIntosh High School, she was a charter member of the Spirit of McIntosh band, was the drum major, and an all-state flute player. She also played for the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra her senior year, and was the winner of their concerto competition. Kelly studied flute with Warren Little of the Atlanta Symphony, Natalie Kruger of the Columbus Symphony, and Linda Lukas of the San Francisco Symphony.

She received her Bachelor’s in Music, emphasizing in flute performance from San Diego State University. In San Diego, Kelly performed with various groups including the San Diego Youth Symphony, small ensembles as well as the college orchestra. Kelly became a band director and taught elementary and middle school band in Southern California before moving back to Georgia and where she taught general music and beginning band in Hall and Henry Counties. Kelly also was the band director for 13 years at Griffin Christian Academy and High School, Trinity Christian School, St. Paul Lutheran School, and Virtuoso Music and Art. She has been the adjunct flute instructor at Gordon University, LaGrange College, Point University, and Weselyan College. Ms. McKinney is the founder and director of the Fayette Area Flutists, a community flute choir that rehearses in Peachtree City and performs twice per year.

In 2014, Kelly received her Master's degree in flute performance at Mercer University in Macon, GA. She studied with Kelly Via and performed with the Mercer University Orchestra and the Mercer Flute choir. Kelly still performs with the flute choir. Kelly has maintained a full flute studio for 10 years and has many students do wonderful things, like all-state, youth orchestras, honor bands, honor orchestras, scholarships to Universities and conservatories.

Kelly is married to Don McKinney and has three sons, Morgan, Brian, and Bryce and a daughter in law, Staci along with one grandson, Thomas. A long-time appreciation of the flute has resulted in Kelly’s desire to share this passion with her students and she now devotes her time and energies to nurturing enthusiastic flutists of all ages and all levels.

Contact: flutapalooza@gmail.com, text or call at 770-617-0894