Introducing: Dr. James Plenty | Conducting Fellow
The Indianapolis Symphonic Choir is pleased to announce Dr. James Plenty as our new Conducting Fellow.
Among the first of its kind in the nation, the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir Conducting Fellowship is a 2-year program in partnership with Butler University. The Conducting Fellow is selected through a competitive process. Upon successful completion of the program, the student will have earned a M. M. in choral conducting from Butler University and gained practical and applied experience addressing artistic and administrative needs of a leading symphonic choirs. The Conducting Fellowship provides a 360-degree experience in the guidance of a premiere symphonic chorus, including artist programming, development, communications, governance and outreach initiatives.
James Anthony Plenty is a conductor, clinician, and scholar from Central Alabama. He is a musician who is equally at home in sacred, popular, and classical music. Distinguished for his musical mind and spirited performances, Dr. Plenty is frequently invited to serve as a guest clinician, accompanist, and competition adjudicator. Plenty’s professional achievements include serving as a contributing composer in the newly published Total Praise Hymnal. Dr. Plenty is Co-Executive Producer of a CD project titled Plenty Good News Presents…When Pastors Meet. Additionally, Dr. Plenty holds an appointment as the Music and Worship Arts Education Director of the Music Auxiliary in the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. and served as a guest lectionary liturgist for the African American Lectionary, a collaborative project of The African American Pulpit and American Baptist College of Nashville.
As a scholar and practitioner in sacred music and the arts, Dr. Plenty has served in church administration as a director of music and youth programs, consultant, and teacher. In 2007, Plenty began serving at Union Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Huntsville, Alabama as the youngest Music and Arts Director in the history of the megachurch. An established academician, Plenty has also served as a member of the faculties of J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College, Alabama A&M University, H. Councill Trenholm State Community College, and Alabama State University.
James is a 2006 cum laude graduate of The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Technology. In addition to completing his studies in Birmingham, he also holds the Master of Church Music degree from Lee University and the Doctor of Education degree in Leadership, Policy, and Law from Alabama State University where he was a doctoral fellow of Abernathy College of Education. Plenty is also a graduate of the University of Alabama Community College Leadership Academy. He is currently a Master's of Music choral conducting student at Butler University.