“He has always cared for us,” said Chelsea Leavell, a Trojanette.

     After four exciting years, Ryan Kelly is resigning as the band director of “The Pride of the Big Bend.” During those four years he directed the marching, jazz, concert and symphonic bands, and co-directed the Trojanettes.

     “After I found out, I immediately went to tell the band students in the band room,” Principal Allen Burch said.

    On March 15 Kelly broke the news that he would be leaving Lincoln to go to Texas. The whole band gathered into the band room as Kelly told the sad news. As he spoke, some students were emotionally moved and started to cry.

    “He sat us all down and told us with Mr. Burch a few weeks ago,” said marching and symphonic band member Madison Boukas.

    Kelly is going to the University of Texas in Austin. As Kelly stated, he will be there for at least three years to get his doctorate in conducting and become Dr. Kelly. While he’s there, he will also be on the UT band staff. Although he will be moving up the ladder and teaching college band classes, Kelly said, he would come and visit Lincoln.

    “I would love to come back, if there is an opportunity to see everyone,” Kelly said.

    The position of band director is now open to anyone who is qualified. Candidates have already signed up for the job, and many more may.

    “They should love Lincoln, and be ready to keep the Lincoln tradition going of being the best band in the Tallahassee area,” said Burch, describing characteristics that the new director should have.

Burch said that, most likely, a lot of things will not change about the band - for example, the genre of music played. The new director will probably add his/her own special pizzazz to the band, but overall it will be the same.

    “Every band director has their own little unique style,” Boukas said.

    Kelly will continue with the year as usual, so he, the Trojanettes coach and the drum line director will still write the marching band show. He will leave it up to the new director to keep their ideas, or not, just as, when Kelly first started, he changed the whole show from what the previous director had planned.

    “Lincoln will never have another Mr. Kelly,” Burch said.