OZMA ’26 Staff Members- Ricard,Pence
Each Musicians Abroad tour is guided by an outstanding team of educators who bring leadership, experience and enthusiasm to every step of the journey. These dedicated professionals support students through rehearsals, performances and travel abroad, ensuring each participant has a meaningful and unforgettable experience.
Kimberly Ricard
Kimberly Ricard received her bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Tulsa and has taught orchestra in Broken Arrow Public Schools for 37 years. She works with both middle school and high school orchestra students and has also taught AP Music Theory and private lessons.
During her tenure, the orchestra program has grown significantly, eventually requiring a new rehearsal space. Ricard’s ensembles have earned numerous superior ratings and sweepstakes awards, and her students have received many additional honors, including performing at Carnegie Hall.
Many of her students have participated in state, national and international music programs. In 2023, her chamber orchestra performed as an OKMEA honor group and was scheduled to perform again in 2026 before the event was canceled due to a snowstorm.
Ricard hopes to leave all of her students with a lifelong appreciation for the arts.
Kelli Pence
Dr. Kelli Pence serves as director of bands for Broken Arrow Public Schools and has taught in the district since 2008. Prior to joining Broken Arrow, she taught at Marshall University and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
Under her direction, ensembles have consistently earned OSSAA Sweepstakes Awards for excellence on the concert stage and marching field. Bands under her leadership have performed as honor ensembles at the OKMEA Annual Conference in 2016, 2020 and 2026. The program was also selected as a featured ensemble for the 2020 Music for All National Concert Band Festival.
Pence earned bachelor’s degrees in music education and performance from Bowling Green State University, a master’s degree in music performance from Northwestern University and a doctorate in music in saxophone performance with an emphasis in wind conducting from Northwestern University.
Her principal teachers included Dr. Frederick L. Hemke, Dr. John Sampen, Dr. Mallory Thompson and Dr. Ryan T. Nelson. As a saxophonist, Pence has performed with the Grant Park Symphony, Elmhurst Symphony and Miami Valley Symphony. She has also performed throughout Italy as part of the Studio Arts Center Internationale and the Faenza Festival del Sassofono, and has appeared as a soloist and chamber musician in Trondheim, Norway and at Domaine Forget in Canada.
