Kelly Berdahl is a graduate from Bozeman High School.  A product of music educator parents, he earned a Bachelors degree in Music Education from Montana State University – Bozeman.   While at MSU, Mr. Berdahl directed the Bobcat basketball pep band for two years, was included as a trumpet player “extra” in the movie “A River Runs Through It”, and performed a four-city tour of Montana with the Temptations.  Mr. Berdahl began his teaching career at East Bakersfield High School in Bakersfield, CA, where he spent eight years as the Director of Instrumental Music.  Although East Bakersfield HS is an inner-city school nestled amongst tough neighborhoods wrought with gang and drug issues, it still fielded a competitive marching band, drumline and colorguard, as well as a concert band, jazz band, and string orchestra.  While at EBHS, Mr. Berdahl was twice awarded the “Teacher of the Year”.  Mr. Berdahl was hired as the Director of Bands at Bozeman High School in 2002, where he currently directs three concert bands, one jazz band, a competitive marching band and the pep band.  Mr. Berdahl is frequently invited as a guest conductor or adjudicator throughout the region, and continues to perform on trumpet with Bozeman-area salsa, funk, and big bands.  Recently he was selected as the School Band and Orchestra National Magazine's "50 Director's That Make a Difference" for 2018.

He lives in Bozeman with his wife Natasha and their son, Silas.