About Melissa Keeling

Acclaimed for performing repertoire ranging from orchestral literature to electronic music, flutist, composer, and educator Dr. Melissa Keeling is based in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Her music has been described as "revelatory" (The Flutist Quarterly), "the most creative flute writing of 2018 next to Bjork... a delight... stunning and moving”  (The Flute View). Melissa is a Trevor James International Flute Artist and an Endorsed Artist by K&K Sound.

Dr. Keeling regularly presents solo and chamber music across the country, appearing as a guest artist and soloist at festivals and universities such as the Missouri Flute Society Festival, National Flute Association Convention, Mid-South Flute Festival, Make Music New York Festival, West Virginia University, Middle Tennessee State University, and Western Kentucky University. As an orchestral musician, Dr. Keeling has served as principal flutist, piccoloist, and soloist with orchestras such as the Ureuk Symphony Orchestra, New York Harmonic Band, and the Western Kentucky University Wind Ensemble. She has performed at venues including Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall, and the Firehouse Space in New York City. Her solo albums, sonyq (2010), SUPERSONYQ (2018), The Quarantine Tapes (2020), and HYPERSONYQ (2023) feature original music for flute with effects pedals.  

"Keeling's compositions and her playing represent the full 64-color box of Crayolas while the rest of us are making do with an eight-pack of crayons. Keeling's basic playing is wonderful – lovely, full, and rich tone on flute, piccolo, and alto flute combined with serious technique and clean articulation."  — The Flutist Quarterly

As an educator, Dr. Keeling is currently a part-time professor at Western Kentucky University, teaching courses in music education, music theory, and music history. She has published two books, The Electric Flute: A Beginner’s Guide to Playing Flute with Effects (2022) and The Glissando Flute: Handbook for Composers and Performers (2020), which is the first method book for the Glissando Headjoint ever published. She has maintained a private studio for over 15 years. Her studio has included students from all over the world, including Australia, Czech Republic, New York, Florida, New Mexico, Texas, as well as in the local area. Dr. Keeling is also a certified K-12 educator with seven years of public school classroom experience.  

Dr. Keeling currently serves on the Board of Directors for two non-profit organizations: the Flute Society of Kentucky and the Asbury Park African-American Music Project.

[Melissa's] voice on the flute has a depth and beauty that enrich all the music made with effects... [I] heard a lot of things I've not heard before."  — Robert Dick

Dr. Keeling holds degrees from The Graduate Center, CUNY (D.M.A., Music Performance), Middle Tennessee State University (M.A., Music Performance), and Western Kentucky University (B.S., Music Education). Her teachers include Robert Dick, Deanna Little, and Heidi Álvarez.