Michaela Kelly

About

Dr. Michaela Kelly is an Assistant Professor of Voice at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro School of Music, a position she began in 2025. She is a soprano, researcher, and educator with extensive performance experience. Dr. Kelly received the prestigious 2024 Emerging Leader Award from the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) and serves as Vice President of Programs for NATS-Los Angeles. Her research focuses on vocal pedagogy and motor learning, examining how motor learning frameworks can enhance teaching effectiveness and student outcomes. Her published work, "The Composition of a Voice Lesson: How a Motor Learning Classification Framework Affects Teacher Effectiveness," appears in the Journal of Singing. Dr. Kelly performs regularly as a recitalist and has appeared with major ensembles including the Los Angeles Opera Chorus and Los Angeles Master Chorale. She was recognized with the inaugural American Art Song Prize at SongFest, where she studied under renowned composers Libby Larsen and John Musto. Before joining UNCG, she held positions as lecturer at Scripps College and Chapman University in Southern California. Dr. Kelly holds a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Vocal Performance from the University of Southern California, a Master of Music (MM) in Vocal Pedagogy from New England Conservatory, and a Bachelor of Music (BM) in Music Education from UNC Greensboro.

Education & Qualifications

Doctor of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance, University of Southern California; Master of Music in Vocal Pedagogy, New England Conservatory; Bachelor of Music in Music Education, UNC Greensboro

Teaching Styles