Biography & Photo Gallery

Long Bio

Mr. McKinney holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Cello Performance from the University of Alabama and a Master’s Degree in Music Education from University of MO St. Louis. He now serves as the director of orchestras at Parkway Central Middle School currently in his 11th year. In 2023 He was awarded the Missouri American String Teacher Secondary Teacher of the Year award for his work as a middle school orchestra director. Mr. McKinney also maintains a YouTube channel dedicated to cello www.youtube.com/@thecelloonline

From 2003-2012, Mr. McKinney was the cellist for the afternoon contemporary service at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, Alabama. He performed with the band throughout the Southeast and recorded two albums, “Lift Him Up” and “In the Hand of the Maker,” both of which feature cello solos written and performed by Mr. McKinney. Mr. McKinney’s own cello arrangement of Amazing Grace can be found on “In the Hands of the Maker,” available from cdbaby, Amazon, and Apple Music.

From 2007-2012, Mr. McKinney performed as cellist for the Blue Galaxy String Project in Birmingham, Alabama. An eclectic band, the Blue Galaxy String Project is an instrumental pop group that plays a wide variety of music including The Beatles, Dave Brubeck, Led Zeppelin, Nirvana, Radiohead, and others.

Clay McKinney has immersed himself in the music community by serving as a teacher, leader, lecturer, clinician, conductor, and most recently YouTube Creator. The youtube channel, with over 500 videos covering a wide range of cello related topics, has garnered over 1 million views and has a following of nearly 10,000 subscribers. The channel focuses on cello technique and cello repertoire and all levels.

From 2007-2012, Mr. McKinney taught strings at the Booker T. Washington Magnet Arts High School in Montgomery, Alabama. During his time there, his students won numerous awards and honors including first place and honorable mention in the Chamber music competition of the Alabama Music Teachers Association (member of MTNA), superior ratings at the Alabama Chapter of the American String Teachers Association competition, prizes and honorable mentions at Montgomery’s Artistic Competition for Exceptional students, and advanced placement in the All-State Orchestra festival.

As a leader, Mr. McKinney served as President of the Alabama Orchestra Association (AOA), where he organized festivals and the AOA’s participation in the annual conference of Alabama Music Educators Association (member of NAfME). The AOA seeks to promote orchestral playing around the State including the All-State Orchestra festival, where more than 200 talented music students experience a weekend of intensive learning and orchestral performance.

Currently He serves as Vice-President for the Middle School Honors Orchestra in the St. Louis Suburban District 5 and previously served as V.P. for the 6th Grade Honors Orchestra. These groups pull students from all over St. Louis County to rehearse and perform together for the annual All Suburban Honors Festival.

Mr. McKinney remains involved as a conductor and lecturer. He has presented workshop lectures on “MusicaListening", Discussions on the Connections between Emotion and Technique, “Amazing Slow Downer App, how it works and what it teaches us”, and “Build a better phrase, Build a Better Ensemble; the art of mapping the bow”, "YouTube, Is it worth it?" at the local, state, and national level including the Alabama Music Educators Conference, Missouri Music Educators Conference and the American String Teachers Association National Conference, and the Technology Institute for Music Education (TI:ME) National Conference. He has conducted school orchestras including the Hazelwood East High and East Middle Orchestras, Booker T. Washington String Orchestra and has been a guest conductor at the Alabama Southeast District Honors Orchestra.

Mr. McKinney makes his home in St. Louis Missouri with his wife Julia Sakharova and their two children

Short Bio

Mr. McKinney holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Cello Performance from the University of Alabama and a Master’s Degree in Music Education from University of MO St. Louis. He now serves as the director of orchestras at Parkway Central Middle School currently in his 11th year. In 2023 He was awarded the Missouri American String Teacher Secondary Teacher of the Year award for his work as a middle school orchestra director. Mr. McKinney also maintains a YouTube channel dedicated to cello www.youtube.com/@thecelloonline

From 2003-2012, Mr. McKinney was the cellist for the afternoon contemporary service at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, Alabama. From 2007-2012, Mr. McKinney performed as cellist for the Blue Galaxy String Project in Birmingham, Alabama. An eclectic band, the Blue Galaxy String Project is an instrumental pop group that plays a wide variety of music including The Beatles, Dave Brubeck, Led Zeppelin, Nirvana, Radiohead, and others.

Clay McKinney has immersed himself in the music community by serving as a teacher, leader, lecturer, clinician, conductor, and most recently YouTube Creator. The youtube channel, with over 500 videos covering a wide range of cello related topics, has garnered over 1 million views and has a following of nearly 10,000 subscribers. The channel focuses on cello technique and cello repertoire and all levels.

From 2007-2012, Mr. McKinney taught strings at the Booker T. Washington Magnet Arts High School in Montgomery, Alabama.

As a leader, Mr. McKinney served as President of the Alabama Orchestra Association (AOA) and currently serves as Vice-President for the Middle School Honors Orchestra in the St. Louis Suburban District 5. He previously served as V.P. for the 6th Grade Honors Orchestra.

Mr. McKinney remains involved as clinician. He has presented workshops at the local, state, and national level including the Alabama Music Educators Conference, Missouri Music Educators Conference and the American String Teachers Association National Conference, and the Technology Institute for Music Education (TI:ME) National Conference.

Mr. McKinney makes his home in St. Louis Missouri with his wife Julia Sakharova and their two children

Promo Bio

Mr. McKinney holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Cello Performance from the University of Alabama and a Master’s Degree in Music Education from University of MO St. Louis. He now serves as the director of orchestras at Parkway Central Middle School currently in his 11th year. In 2023 He was awarded the Missouri American String Teacher Secondary Teacher of the Year award for his work as a middle school orchestra director. Mr. McKinney also maintains a YouTube channel dedicated to cello www.youtube.com/@thecelloonline which has garnered over 1 million views and has a following of nearly 10,000.