Director

KEN FOLEY

Director

913.933.6758

I am originally from Chagrin Falls, Ohio, which is a suburb of Cleveland. I am the son of two retired music teachers. I have two brothers, both musicians. I have played trumpet since I was 4, drums since age 10, and picked up bass, guitar and a little piano along the way. Being raised with music all around me, it was the only thing I ever saw myself doing as a career.

I graduated from the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati in 1987, where I earned a bachelors degree in music education with a voice concentration. While at UC, I was a four-year letterman as goalie on the varsity soccer team.

For 8 years, I taught general music and choir at Brady Middle School in Pepper Pike, Ohio. I got married in 1995 and my wife Heather and I moved to Kansas City that year so I could study with Eph Ehly in the masters program at UMKC Conservatory of Music. I earned my masters degree in Choral Conducting in December 1996.

From 1996-2008, I was the upper school choral director and music teacher at The Pembroke Hill School. At Pembroke Hill, I taught Music History, Music Theory, Music of the 20th Century, and Music Appreciation courses, as well as conducted the Concert Choir, Chorale, Madrigal Singers and a vocal jazz group “Top of the Hill” which I started in 1997. I co-directed 12 musicals in my time there. I have also coached JV and Varsity boys’ and girls’ soccer, and JV and Varsity baseball.

I love being a choir director because it is a place where everyone, no matter what talent level, can contribute and be part of something that is bigger than the sum of its parts. I believe music has the power to change people and make them better.

I look forward to being at East until I retire (in about 20 years!).

I have two daughters, Bria, and Jilli. I enjoy playing soccer and softball. I like water sports, traveling, carpentry, and the Cleveland Indians.

It's Great To Be A Lancer!!