A Special Award of
The John Philip Sousa Foundation
Kelly Dorsey has been Director of Bands at Union County High School in Lake Butler, Florida since 2003, that’s 21 of her 34 years in teaching. She has been active in the Florida Bandmasters Association from the very start of her career as part of the Professional Resources Committee, Marching Band Study Committee, Music Selection Committee (State Music Adopted List), Classification Committee Chair, and is currently the Small Schools Committee Chair. Since 2003, she has served as the North Florida Honor Band Coordinator, (Baker, Bradford, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist and Union counties). She received her music degree from Florida State University.
In 2003, Kelly was inducted into the American School Band Directors Association, in 2016, she received the Florida Bandmasters Association Oliver Hobbs Award and was inducted as a member of Phi Beta Mu Professional Band Fraternity. Kelly also received the Union County School District Teacher of the Year award in 2022.
- The Bandworld Legion of Honor was established in 1989 to honor, over the course of a year, eight of the finest band directors in our business.
- Recipients have taught for at least fifteen years, have maintained a very high-quality concert band program, and have contributed significantly to the profession through dedication to bands and band music.
- Each is honored at the annual Sousa Foundation awards ceremony during the Midwest Band Clinic in Chicago, Illinois.
- Chairman of the Legion of Honor Committee is Terry Austin, Virginia Commonwealth University.
When asked what factors do you consider most important in shaping your career, Kelly states, “I owe all that I am as a teacher to my colleagues in the Florida Bandmasters Association as well as my fellow teachers in each school that I have taught. I have learned a great deal from not only my mentors, the clinics I have attended and the clinicians I bring in to work with my bands but also from those that I mentor as well.”
Her professional philosophy statement is, “My mission is to involve as many students from the school community as possible so they can experience music education to the fullest. This includes but is not limited to the skills involved with musical training. It also includes life-long lessons such as communication, commitment, responsibility, problem solving, focus, and organizational skills. In addition, it is my goal to make sure every child has the opportunity to succeed in my classes regardless of their physical abilities and financial background.”
