Tom Kelly received his undergraduate degree in trumpet performance and music education from Winona State University in Minnesota and a master’s degree in trumpet performance from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
Kelly has performed with the Empire Brass, Canadian Brass, Dallas Brass, Rhythm and Brass, and Mannheim Steamroller and has been a member of orchestras backing performers such as Ray Charles, Steve Allen, Red Skelton, Ben Vereen, Michael Bublé, Gladys Knight, Marie Osmond and The Temptations. Kelly is also principal trumpet and personnel manager of the Plymouth Brass at First-Plymouth Church in Lincoln and principal trumpet in Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra. He performs often with the Omaha Symphony Orchestra and is also a member of the Palladium Brass in Omaha. He has a private studio in Lincoln and also teaches brass at Doane University.
Tom and his wife Angela have two children: Jonah, a trumpet player in the Air Force, and Allison, a student in art education at Concordia.