Jade Blakey began her teaching career in 2014 after graduating Summa Cum
Laude with her degree in Music Education from Millikin University (Decatur,
IL). She studied voice with Ann Borders and conducting with Dr. Brad Holmes
and Dr. Guy Forbes, as well as completed additional coursework in Orff-
Schulwerk. Mrs. Blakey also had the wonderful opportunity to intern with the
Kodály-based Millikin Children’s Chorus, as well as choreographing for local
elementary school music programs.
Her first nine years of teaching were with Clear Lake High School (Houston,
TX). While there, the choir program grew from 90 students to over 150 and
included the reinstatement of the varsity mixed and varsity tenor bass choirs
and the first UIL sweepstakes for the sub non varsity treble choir in many
years. The choir earned sweepstakes at UIL, collaborated on musicals, and
performed throughout the community. Students earned spots in the region and
all-state choirs and have gone on to Broadway, the classical singing world, as
well as the medical and engineering fields.
While working in Clear Lake, Mrs. Blakey completed her three levels of Kodály
certification at the SMU-Plano program and now teaches at the Fort Bend
Kodály Institute in Sugar Land, TX where her new school is located. A passion
of Jade’s is to network with other teachers who want to continue improving at
the craft of teaching music and her work with the Fort Bend Kodály Institute
allows her to continue mentoring teachers.
In 2023, Mrs. Blakey relocated to Clements High School. Alongside her
teaching partner, Mr. Justin Shen, she has enjoyed chartering the first
Chamber Choir, building a strong culture of student leadership, and
reinvigorating All-State Choir engagement. She is particularly proud of the
Chamber Choir’s performance at the Houston Madrigal Festival where they
earned a “Performance of Distinction” in its first year as an ensemble.
Mrs. Blakey has been married to Adam, a middle school band director, since
2013. In her time away from school, Mrs. Blakey loves to bake with her
daughter, garden, read, and plan dinner parties for her dear friends and
colleagues.
The Clements Choir Program is from a 6A high school in Sugar Land, TX. The
program is comprised of 8 performing ensembles with over 165 students. The
students of Clements Choir are skilled musicians with a heart to connect
music to their community. Under the direction of Jade Blakey and Justin Shen,
the Clements Choirs have received many accolades and sweepstakes, built
on the foundation of excellent musicianship instilled in them by their amazing
middle school programs- Fort Settlement Middle School, First Colony Middle
School, and Sartartia Middle School. The choirs have enjoyed numerous
successes with UIL, have performed at the HCU Choir invitational and
Houston Chamber Choir “Hear the Future” Clinic, and have earned
“Performance of Distinction” at the American Classic’s Celebration of
Excellence. Students in Clements Choir often make Region Choir and several
students earn membership to the Texas All-State choir annually. Concert
Chorale, the varsity mixed ensemble, is comprised of 53 students in 10 th
through 12 th grade who have exhibited excellence in the craft of singing, solid
musicianship, and are good citizens of the choir program by being involved,
leading, and mentorship of underclassmen. They have loved being a part of
this project- bringing new music to life has been an exciting challenge for this
ensemble.