About Rhonda Bell-Kelley
Rhonda Bell-Kelley 's interest in music began at a very early age as she listened intently to spirituals, gospel songs and lined-out hymns in her grandmother's Baptist Church in rural Epes, Alabama. Hearing songs such as "Blest Be the Tie That Binds" and "Be Not Dismayed" sparked in her a passion for music that would last a lifetime. Rhonda is a vocalist (lyric soprano), choral conductor, composer and arranger. Her music ministry has exposed her to various genres of music, but her passion is the traditional Negro Spiritual, the hymns of the Christian Church and classical piano. Her master's thesis took the form of a graduate recital in which she produced and conducted a concert of Negro Spirituals and gospel songs arranged by African-American composers. Her published works include several gospel arrangements such as "I Shall Wear A Crown", and original compositions "Let Go, And Let God", "Been To The Mountain Top", and "I Am His Lamb ."
Rhonda received her Master of Arts in Church Music (MACM) from Gammon Theological Seminary of The Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) in May, 2003 and she received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Spelman College. Currently, Rhonda is also completing requirements for the Doctor of Worship Studies, concentrating on sacred choral music. Rhonda is also a member of the Beta Chapter of Delta Omicron International Professional Music Fraternity (graduate chapter), American Songwriters Network (ASN), and The Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Association (FUMMWA).
As a passionate musician, Rhonda has served as minister of music at several churches in the Atlanta metro area for many years. As a vocalist, she has performed and recorded with gospel artist James Bignon and the Deliverance Choir for many years and has performed with The African-American Philharmonic Orchestra, The Atlanta University Centerwide Orchestra, Deniece Graves, Metropolitan Opera artist, and with Bignon and Deliverance on The Atlanta Gospel Choice Awards and Black Entertainment Television (BET) in Washington, DC. In November of 2001, Rhonda was privileged to perform with the ITC Chorus in the world premiere of African-American composer Earnestine Rodgers Robinson's The Nativity with the New England Symphonic Ensemble at Carnegie Hall in New York.
Rhonda teaches voice and piano to students of all ages and she enjoys using her experiences to create an engaging and informative lesson experience. Rhonda believes music is a perfect, infinite, gift and she enjoys getting to share that perspective with her students each and every week.
