MEET THE FACULTY
Kelly A. Ford is the Director of University Choirs at Siena Heights University, Adrian, and holds position as the Assistant Dean of Academics and Associate Professor of Music. He serves as Chair of the Division of Visual and Performing Arts. His teaching duties have included Conducting, Vocal Diction, History of Music, Sight-singing/Ear-training, Elementary and Secondary Music Pedagogy, Choral Arranging, and conducting the University Chorale, Chamber Singers, SHU-Wops, and Nothin’ But Treble.
Ford also instructs a full studio for vocal music majors. He holds bachelor, masters, and doctoral degrees in music and education and was a music educator for Kindergarten through twelfth grade, vocal and instrumental music with award winning ensembles in public schools for twenty years. Dr. Ford previously taught at Saint Joseph’s College, Indiana, as Director of Choirs and Chair of the Department of Music.
He received the Golden Rose Award through the Archdiocese of Chicago in 2014 in recognition of "outstanding contributions in the area of Catholic Music education”. He has been recommended numerous times as outstanding faculty and was 2015 nominee as State Collegiate Music Educator of the Year through the Indiana Music Education Association. He has toured with groups both nationally and internationally, including the selection as director of the choirs for the closing Mass in the Year of Faith (2013) at St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City. Dr. Ford is in frequent demand as an adjudicator and clinician throughout the Midwest.
Kelly is married to his wife of 32 years, Jodi. They have four grown children and a hyperactive dog.
DR. KELLY FORD
Assistant Dean of Academics
Director of University Choirs
Applied Vocal Professor
Dan Kesterke is the Director of Bands at Siena Heights University and additionally serves as Instructor of Percussion since Fall 2018. He holds a position as Assistant Professor of Music and teaches courses in Music Education including instrumental conducting, instrumental methods courses, and music technology. Dan directs the SHU Marching Band, Concert Band, Pep Band, Advanced Instrumental Ensembles, and SHU Jazz Band.
Dan comes from public education experience as Director of Bands of Addison and Adrian Public Schools. Dan’s recent projects are broad in musical scope and range from drum set performance to conducting young band and professional ensembles. Dan performs regularly with the original rock band FLOWERS ON THE GRAVE and with the Triplicity Jazz Ensemble. He is a regular percussionist with the Adrian Symphony Orchestra and freelances frequently as a musical pit and studio musician.
Dan is one of the first call clinic and percussion educators in Lenawee County. He regularly teaches percussion lessons to local students and consults with band directors on rehearsing, music programming, and instrument purchasing. He is married to his wife, Jean, and has two energetic boys: Ian and Rowan.
PROFESSOR DAN KESTERKE
Chair, Department of Music
Director of University Bands
Applied Percussion Professor