Keely Phillips-Carter originally hails from the lovely town of Tifton, Georgia. She holds a Performance Certificate in Musical Theater from The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in New York City, as well as a B.A. in Classical Voice from Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Georgia.
Keely has studied and performed everything from Operetta to Rock Opera and has played lead roles in a myriad of professional theatrical productions. Some of her favorite roles include the title role in Seymour Barab’s Little Red Riding Hood, Yum-Yum in The Mikado, Luisa in The Fantasticks, Catherine in Pippin, and the title role of Carrie in Carrie: The Musical.
Keely began teaching group theatre & musical theatre classes in 2011 at various studios in Durham, North Carolina. In 2014, she made the jump to teaching private voice & acting lessons out of her own studio. She is a Member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing and has lectured on Musical Theatre Repertoire for Nats at their 2023 Summer Workshop in San Diego.
Students from the studio can be found at the following Colleges & Premiere High School Programs:
Boston Conservatory
University of North Carolina at Greensboro – BFA MT & BA Theatre
Yale School Of Music
Shenandoah Conservatory
Lyric Theatre Program – University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
University of North Carolina School of the Arts (High School & College programs)
Circle in the Square – NYC
East Carolina University -BFA MT
Interlochen Arts Academy
Students have also performed with the following companies/organizations
Theatre in the Park
Burning Coal Theatre
Raleigh Little Theatre
Playmakers Summer Youth Conservatory
DPAC Rising Stars (Jimmy Awards Feeder)
NC Govenor’s School
NC Honors Choir
In addition to her teaching, Keely has branched out into the world of directing. In October of 2015, she helmed Durham Ballet Theatre’s inaugural play production, “Almost, Maine”.
Keely lives in Morrisville, North Carolina with her husband Chris, their cat Rosalind and chorkie Murray.
Studio of Keely Phillips-Carter 