
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 2013, 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 as well as currently she is serving as Vice President on the board of the Durham Music Teacher’s Association.
Students from the studio can be found at the following Colleges:
Shenandoah Conservatory
Circle in the Square – NYC
Fred Fox School of Music @ The University of Arizona
University of North Carolina School of the Arts (Both High School & College programs)
Hayes School of Music @ Appalachian State University
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Students have also performed with the following companies/organizations
Raleigh Little Theatre
Playmakers Summer Youth Conservatory
Triangle Rising Stars (Jimmy Awards Feeder)
NC Govenor’s School
NC Honors Choir
Cary Players
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 two cats Tchaikovsky and Rosalind and their chorkie Murray.
