INTERVIEW: Kelli Burrus, Director of Bands at Osborne High School

Bowen Boyack: Tell me about yourself and what inspired you to get this job as a Band Director at Osborne.

Kelli Burrus: I have been married almost 20 years to my husband Justin. We had a son named Maverick and he is the reason I teach the way that I do. I want kids to have everything that I think that he would have had. I wanted to teach at Osborne because I knew what the program used to be and that I wanted to see if I could bring some of that back. My dad and siblings all graduated from Osborne and were in the band program. Osborne is a 2nd home to be. This is my 8th year here out of 9 that I have been teaching. I graduated from Colby Community College in 2006 and Fort Hays State University in 2010 in music education.

BB: Tell me a little bit about the Band Program here at OHS. 

KB: The Osborne Band program consists of a 5th grade, 6th grade, and a combine 7-12 band. 5th grade is not required at Osborne but a fairly high percentage go out. With class conflicts, I felt it was important to combine bands to be able to fill all of the sections. My high school students would rather have JH students with them and be able to play harder music, than not even be able to play basic pieces for lack of instrumentation. Pep band is very important to me for our school and community. We play for all home games and any other requested events for our community such as parades and most importantly the Veteran's Day program to honor our the Veterans of Osborne County. There are several times we have combined bands with the Lakeside HS band as they are in Osborne Co. also. We are also very lucky that the administration lets us travel to all post season football and basketball games. I have several students that audition for honor bands and play solos at contests. I have 2 students that are in JH and have been in 6 honors bands each to date. We also have a Fine Arts Festival for the community where we not only have vocal and instrumental events perform but the forensic events and visual arts of our school are also displayed in our gym.

BB: What inspired your selections for Marching Band this year?

KB: We only street march for a couple of small parades and go to the Kansas State fair. We shoot to play music that people will enjoy, such as 80's and jazz based tunes. I at the State Fair this year we earned a I- rating, which is the first time in 8 years that we have received a I.

BB: What concert band repertoire are your bands playing this year? When are your upcoming performances?

KB: This year our spring concert will be laden with ballads such as On a Hymnsong of Philip Bliss and a Childhood Hymn by Holsinger, Forever by Balmages, and In Heaven's Air by Hazo. That is also one of our contest pieces along with Swearingen's Park Street Celebration. The spring concert is in commemoration of my son being gone for 10 years as of Valentine's Day. I have had a bucket list of pieces and my band has picked them off one at a time but it is time for it to be well with my soul which the On a Hymnsong of Philip Bliss is based on. Every piece will honor or remember someone.

BB:Looking forward to 2019, any plans you would like to share?

KB: For us, the future is now. We may be small but we are mighty. We will continue to serve our school and community with music that they enjoy, and we support and encourage with.

Thank you, Kelli. Best of luck to you and the OHS Bands in the future.