Kelly Nordstrom’s unique and personal approach to music education has a reputation for endearing and inspiring his students. Native to Canada’s West Coast Kelly has travelled internationally as a performer, music creator/writer and session musician.
In 2013, Kelly celebrated the award winning debut release entitled “Dimensionaut” with the band “Sound of Contact”, featuring Simon Collins, Dave Kerzner and Matt Dorsey. SoC (Sound of Contact) was mixed by Producer Nick Davis (Genesis, Tony Banks, Mike + the Mechanics, XTC, Marillion…) and received the prestigious “Limelight Award” at the “Progressive Music Awards 2013” held in the UK for “Best New Band” marking an important touchstone of Kelly’s career. Co-creator of the concept behind the “Dimensionaut” album, the package also includes an excerpt of Kelly’s original SoC Dimensionaut poetry, providing an example of the inspired diversity Kelly has as an artist which can help elevate projects to such critical and international success.
Kelly’s extensive work with Simon Collins and Lightyears Music LTD, LLC since 2004 is not to be overshadowed by the recent success of SoC. On Simon’s 2008 “U-Catastrophe” release Kelly worked with producer Kevin Churko (Ozzy Osbourne, Shania Twain, Ringo Starr, Five Finger Death Punch, In This Moment, Hinder, Britney Spears, Rob Zombie…) who went on to win a Juno for “Best Engineer” for his work on that album. Simon’s solo albums also feature Kelly’s guitar playing and song writing on tracks with special guests such as Phil Collins and Steve Hacket of Genesis as well as Marcus Deml of the Scorpions.
Although a bona fide progressive rock guitarist, Kelly’s musical diversity is exemplified with recent appearances on stage with artists such as Sass Jordan, Toni Childs and Victoria’s legendary Armoros. Furthermore, in the late 90′s Kelly also pioneered the Live House/Electronica music scene with the highly inventive Canadian band Velvet, later to become Kuba Ohms and the Velvet Revolution. Kelly continues to work with Kuba Oms and their latest single “My Love” has, as of 2020, exceeded 6 million plays on Spotify alone.
The type of experience Kelly has had in the Industry and Institution of Music is unusual and priceless. Mentored from childhood by Jazz artist Louise Rose (Oscar Peterson, Duke Ellington) and later in life by iconic Canadian guitarist Sean Ashby (Sarah Mclachlan, Grapes of Wrath), Kelly has worked extensively in the independent music industry as well as corporate markets including international radio and TV appearances.
With diplomas in both Music Performance and Music Production (Selkirk), and Certificate from the Victoria Conservatory of Music, Kelly has studied a broad cross section of most Traditional and Modern styles both institutionally and privately. In particular, Modern Jazz (Selkirk College: Berklee College of Music curriculum) and Flamenco (Gary Owen: Alma de Espana) have been important influences on Kelly’s unique approach to guitar and music in general.
Furthermore Kelly, with Hayden Cyr, composed and performed the score to a film entitled ‘Sync’ created by Jeremy Ball which was featured at international film festivals including Bumbershoot 2011.