Department of Music Faculty and Staff

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), and The Quarantine Tapes (2020) feature original music for flute with effects pedals.

As an educator, Dr. Keeling is currently teaches part-time at Western Kentucky University, leading courses in music education and music history. She also has experience teaching undergraduate flute lessons, woodwind methods courses, and coaching chamber ensembles at the collegiate level. Dr. Keeling has taught K-12 music for seven years and has maintained a private studio for over 15 years. Her book, The Glissando Flute: Handbook for Composers and Performers (2020) is the first method book for the Glissando Headjoint ever published. 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.

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). Dr. Keeling studied with Robert Dick, Deanna Little, and Heidi Álvarez.