Dr. Kevin Costley holds several graduate degrees in the areas of curriculum, instruction, and piano pedagogy/literature, including a Ph.D. from Kansas State University. At the age of 27, he was distinguished as one of K-States youngest doctors. For nearly two decades, he was owner/director of the Keyboard Academy, specializing in private and small group teaching.

Since 1995, Dr. Costley has been a standing faculty member at Inspiration Point Fine Arts Colony Piano and String Camp, where he specializes in large ensemble classes and teaching composition. His published compositions have been continually listed in the National Federation of Music Clubs bulletins, the Royal Conservatory list, and other performance repertoire lists. He was awarded the Certificate of Merit in California for his Composer in Focus collections published by The FJH Music Company, Inc. In 2008, Dr. Costley was awarded the prestigious Arkansas Traveler’s Award by the governor and commissioner of the state of Arkansas in recognition of his distinguished accomplishments in the field of piano composition. Frequently Dr. Costley adjudicates piano festivals, auditions, and composition contests and has been a speaker/clinician at state, regional, national and international conferences.

In 2011, Dr. Costley celebrated his silver anniversary with his wife, Dana. He is the father of two musical children, Benjamin (a percussionist) and Victoria (a pianist). After retiring from university teaching in 2015, he now resides back in his home state of Missouri. He and his wife became proud, first-time grandparents in 2016.