About

BIOGRAPHY:

Since 2007, Julian Kley has been an avid percussionist. He focuses intensively on his mallet percussion and orchestral percussion technique, but is also quite experienced in drum set and world percussion.

Mr. Kley won several awards in his high school years. In 2010, he earned the Patrick S. Gilmore award, which honored Poudre High School Band’s most promising newcomer. His band-mates voted him an outstanding sophomore member award in 2011, and a similar junior award in 2012. Upon graduating in 2013, Mr. Kley won the John Philip Sousa band award, given to the band’s most outstanding senior.

At just 21 years of age, Mr. Kley’s performances have been quite extensive. His high school jazz band played at New York City’s jazz festival in spring of 2013, he performed with the United States Navy Band in the same year, and he was a member of Colorado State University’s summer music camp honor band for three consecutive years. He is currently a member of the University of Colorado’s Wind Symphony (with which he performed in Boettcher Hall in Denver in early 2016), Symphony Orchestra, and Latin Jazz Ensemble. In April 2017, he will perform an hour-long solo recital featuring solo marimba, multipercussion duets, and “The Fall of the Empire” by Fredreic Rzewski, a piece in which he simultaneously speaks and plays.

When he is not playing percussion, Mr. Kley can be found reading, drawing, or writing passionately about his favorite stories. His biggest art project to date is a full comic adaptation of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, which he completed over the course of nearly seven years.

 

RESUME:

KEY STRENGTHS: Creative problem solver with strong math and visualization skills; experienced writer; outgoing; musically talented.

EDUCATION:

UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO BOULDER

Fall 2013–Present

Dual Degree – Mathematics and Percussion Performance

Estimated Graduation: May 2018

Cumulative Grade Point Average: 3.78

 

POUDRE HIGH SCHOOL

Fall 2009–Spring 2013

  • International Baccalaureate MYP and Diploma Programs
  • Higher Level exams in English, History, and Mathematics
  • Graduation: May 2013
  • Cumulative Grade Point Average: 3.475
  • Personal Project “Musical Cartoons”: composition and performance of a 5-minute piece of music for eight-player percussion ensemble

 

LESHER MIDDLE SCHOOL

Fall 2007–Spring 2009

 

ACTIVITIES:

MUSIC

  • Junior Percussion Recital (March 2016)
  • ENSEMBLES
    • CU-BOULDER:
      • Symphonic Band (2013-2015)
      • Wind Symphony (2015-present)
      • Symphony Orchestra (2016-present)
      • Percussion Ensemble (2013-present)
      • Brazilian Bateria (2013-2016)
      • Latin Jazz Ensemble (2014-present)
    • POUDRE HIGH SCHOOL:
      • Wind Ensemble (2009-2013; percussion section leader 2012-2013)
      • Jazz Band 1 (2011-2013)
      • Jazz Combo (2011-2013)
      • Percussion Ensemble (2009-2013)
    • Private Piano Instruction (2003-2013)

 

CHESS

  • Taught lessons at Rivendell School from Fall 2012–Spring 2013
  • Numerous Poudre School District chess tournament top 5 finishes

 

HONORS/AWARDS:

  • CSU Summer Music Camp Honor Band 2010, 2011, 2012
    • Section leader, 2012
  • Interlochen Percussion Institute 2012
  • Patrick S. Gilmore Band Award 2010 (Outstanding Concert Band Student)
  • Outstanding Sophomore and Junior Band Member Award 2011, 2012
  • John Phillip Sousa Band Award 2013 (Outstanding Senior)
  • Guest Performance with US Navy Band

March 2013

 

 

VOLUNTEER AND WORK EXPERIENCE:

  • RideKick Part-Time Contractor (2016)
  • Food Bank at Larimer County Volunteer (2015)
  • Alumnus volunteer at Rivendell School (2007-2013)
  • Campaign Literature Volunteer (2009-2010)
  • Data Entry at Open Stage Theater (2010)

 

LANGUAGES:

6-year French student

Conversant in German