Chris Kelly and Stephanie McCranie (SoM alumna) started The Musical Athlete in April 2020 after discovering the gap between how professional athletes and professional musicians train their body and breath. Since the inception Chris and Stephanie have worked with some of the most famous singers in the world including Isabel Leonard, Michael Fabiano and Kirsten Chambers. They have been featured as master clinicians at the Vienna Summer Music Festival, Premiere Opera Vocal Artists Institute, Vincero Academy. The Musical Athlete also contributes weekly content on health, breath and fitness for The Dallas Opera. Most recently The Musical Athlete was featured in Classical Singer Magazine. Chris Kelly possesses a Masters Degree in Journalism from Columbia University, is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the NSCA and has completed all the education for systems such as Functional Range Conditioning, Postural Restoration Institute, Bill Hartman’s Intensive and Neurokinetic Therapy.  As the co-owner of the Musical Athlete, a physical preparation and performance company for vocalists, Chris uses biomechanical principles to help vocalists move, breath and perform better while gaining a new understanding of their body. He is passionate about helping singers support the vocal mechanism by training the body and the breath holistically. In his role as a teacher, Chris has educated hundreds of fitness trainers, physical therapists, massage therapists and personal trainers in topics such as movement screening, rehabilitative core training, exercise prescription/modification and much more.

Stephanie has an extensive background in the arts, from performing on stage to teaching and working in arts administration. Recently Stephanie was in Gulf Coast Symphony’s production of Elixir of Love as Giannetta. Stephanie also has been seen locally in Opera Tampa’s Carmen and in the World Premiere of Love v. Death as Elena Hoyo with St. Pete Art Alliance. Stephanie has performed with many companies including: The Dallas Opera, Opera Colorado, Opera Tampa, St. Pete Opera, Space Coast Symphony Orchestra, Opera del Sol and Central Florida Vocal Arts. Stephanie currently performs with the acclaimed Classical Crossover group, Klassika, which recently went on tour to South Africa. Ms. McCranie had the privilege of serving as faculty at Texas A&M University Commerce, University of the Incarnate Word and University of Tampa. Stephanie currently has her own voice studio and is an active soloist. In addition to a Bachelors in Music Education from Stetson University, Ms. McCranie has a Masters in Vocal Performance from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. 

Chris and Stephanie will offer a masterclass at Stetson on January 20, 2022. For more information contact Prof. Craig Maddox at cmaddox@stetson.edu