Kyri Demby is a native Floridian, born and raised in Crestview, Fl. He is the middle child of seven children born to Linda Brown. Kyri began directing and playing for church choirs at the age of thirteen and was given the opportunity to perform for the ACT-SO program for the national NAACP convention. During High School he was selected to sing for the All-County and All-State Chorus for the Florida Music Educators National Conference (FMENC).
Kyri then attended the famed Bethune-Cookman College (now Bethune-Cookman University) in Daytona Beach, Florida where he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Education and Church Music. During his time at Bethune-Cookman he traveled extensively with the Concert Chorale under the direction of Dr. Rebecca Steele, performing for and with such names as Ray Charles, Richard Smallwood, Moses Hogan, Glenn Burleigh, Max Roach, and Bill Cosby. As a part of a community service project, Demby founded the Highlands After School Arts Program. In this program, he mentored and tutored a group of students while exposing them to a variety of arts experiences. This gave him the opportunity to Assist the Daytona Beach Symphony Society in the Youth Experiencing the Symphony (Y.E.S.) program. Kyri was also appointed chaplain for the National Pre-Alumni Chapter a subsidiary of the UNCF. Kyri has also received a Master of Education Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of South Florida.
Kyri Demby is currently the music teacher at Alta Vista Elementary School and the music director for Payne Chapel A.M.E. Church where he has served for eight years. Demby’s musical expertise has lead him to a great deal performance experiences. He is a member of the Sarasota based band the Groove, the music director for “Sam Heath and Begotten Praise” who has opened for gospel artist Tye Tribbet, and a member of the Gulf Coast Community Choir under the direction of Dr. Carroll Buchanan. Demby has also authored several books which are in the publication process including Lori Biscuit the Musical Detective Series, The Empowered Church Choir Guide, and The Tales of the Steel Quarters. He has also founded “Let Music Live” a church and educational consulting firm. Let Music Live travels to various churches and offers assistance with Choir Workshops and Church Evaluation and Planning.
“Each one must reach one (or two or three)!” Is Demby’s belief about community service. Demby is a mentor to several high school students and college students whom he offers a great deal of support. He has also started the Let Music Live Scholarship Fund to help struggling students with money for books and supplies. Demby also offers free piano lessons to several children in the community.
