Biography: Jim Kelsey is the Director of Music at Columbia Junior High in the Fife School District . His junior high ensembles have achieved an impressive record of competitive and festival performances. Mr. Kelsey has established a band and choral program in the Fife School District that is one of the finest and most active in the Northwest. Concert, marching and jazz groups regularly perform for local events, as well as touring annually throughout Washington and Oregon .

Mr. Kelsey has been a piano adjudicator the past five years for the Chinook Region Solo/Ensemble Contest, as well as an adjudicator for the Washington State Homeschool Band Festival.  In 2000, 2002, and 2004 Mr. Kelsey was nominated into the Who's Who Among America 's Teachers. In 2005, he was selected as Fife School District's Teacher of the Year.  Outside of CJH, he conducts an adult jazz band based out the the Puyallup Nazarene Church called The Jazz Disciples and teaches adult piano through Pierce College's extensed learning program.  His hobbies include spending time with his family, kite flying, camping, model building, and antique cars.

Mr. Kelsey holds a Bachelor's of Music Education degree from Eastern Washington University and a Masters in Music Theory/Composition degree from Central Washington University.