Kellan Toohey’s varied career includes recitals and solo appearances, chamber music, teaching, and orchestral playing. He holds a DMA from the University of Colorado and his teachers include Daniel Silver, Bil Jackson, Jon Manasse, and Yehuda Gilad.

An active orchestral player, Dr. Toohey will be joining the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra as principal clarinetist at the beginning of the 2024-25 season. He also currently holds the positions of principal clarinetist of the Boulder Chamber Orchestra, Fort Collins Symphony, and Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra. He is also a member of the Colorado Ballet Orchestra and has performed across the US, Europe, and in Asia, and recently recorded his first solo cd, entitled Scenes from Home, premiere recordings of new music by Colorado composers.

Kellan has received numerous awards, including winning 2nd Prize in the International Clarinet Association's Young Artist Competition (2013 Assisi, Italy), 1st Prize and audience choice award in the University of Colorado Ekstrand Graduate Performance competition, 1st Prize in the University of Northern Colorado Concerto competition and Angie Southard Performance Competition, and was also the winner of the Colorado College Summer Festival and Greeley Chamber Orchestra concerto competitions. In November 2016 he made his recital debut at Carnegie Hall's Weill Hall in New York City.

In addition to his performing and teaching work, Kellan is the co-founder of Melodic Light, a concert series based in Boulder County. Melodic Light presents numerous programs each season and brings professional, high quality classical chamber music performances to underserved communities across the region. In an effort to reach new and diverse audiences, most of these events are free and open to the public.

Kellan also enjoys active involvement in his church, composing music, reading, hiking, and spending time outdoors.