Branden Kelly is a distinguished percussionist and music educator based in Prince Edward Island. Currently, he serves as the instrumental music director at Three Oaks Senior High School in Summerside, and as a principal percussionist with the PEI Symphony Orchestra.

A native of Cornwall, PEI, Kelly holds a Masters Degree in Percussion Performance from the University of Toronto where he studied under Russell Hartenberger and Beverley Johnson. Branden also holds a Bachelor of Music Education at UPEI studying percussion performance under David Shephard.

Kelly has performed as a featured soloist with the UPEI Wind Symphony three times (2010, 2014, 2017), and with the PEI Symphony Orchestra as the Suzanne Brenton Award Winner in 2016. On the national stage, he has represented PEI twice, performing as a percussionist with the National Youth Band of Canada and as a soloist in the National Music Festival, where he placed third in the percussion category. He was also a Rose Bowl winner at the PEI Kiwanis Music Festival and has performed as a solo/sessional percussionist all over Prince Edward Island including the Indian River Festival, Confederation Center of the Arts, Kings Playhouse, Trinity United Church and St. Dunstan’s Basilica.

Balancing his professional commitments, Kelly is also a dedicated father of two young children. He remains an active performer, seizing opportunities to contribute to the musical landscape of Prince Edward Island whenever possible.