Conducting Fellowship

Presented by the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir & Butler University

The Indianapolis Symphonic Choir’s Conducting Fellowship provides one-of-a-kind professional mentorship opportunities for the next generation of choral conductors. Especially focusing on large-scale choral-orchestral masterworks, the Conducting Fellowship is a collaborative initiative between the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir and Butler University, a 4,600-student liberal arts institution located in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The two-year Fellowship provides full tuition and a stipend. Upon successful completion of the program, the student will have earned a Master of Music in choral conducting from Butler University and gained practical and applied experience addressing the artistic and administrative needs of leading symphonic choirs.

The Conducting Fellowship provides a 360-degree experience in the guidance of a premier symphonic chorus, including artist programming, development, communications, governance, and outreach initiatives.

Additional Information

Click here to email the Butler University School of Music with questions related to the Conducting Fellowship or here for more information.

For additional information about the Conducting Fellowship, email Dr. Eric Stark, Artistic Director at estark@butler.edu.


Meet Kiki Porter, Conducting Fellow

The Indianapolis Symphonic Choir announces Kiki Porter as its newest conducting fellow for the 2022-2024 academic years. Porter, a graduate of Oberlin Conservatory with a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance is an incoming masters student in choral conducting at Butler University.

Kiki was introduced to musicianship early in life as a member of the Metropolitan Opera Children’s Chorus, where she sang in more than 250 performances in 16 different operas over seven years. She continued to develop her singing through All-State & All-Eastern choirs and summers at Interlochen Arts Camp, where she eventually became a counselor. She made her college opera debut as Peaseblossom in Oberlin Opera Theater’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Kiki sang in the Oberlin College Choir, the Chamber Singers Ensemble, and the Seraphic Fire’s Choral Institute. 

Kiki is Choir Director at Oberlin’s First United Methodist Church. She also conducted spiritual and classical pieces with Oberlin College Choir and Chamber Singers and served as assistant director in Oberlin Opera Theater’s production of Handel’s Acis and Galatea. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, she virtually conducted and assembled a rendition of Brandon Ulrich’s “A Heaven Full of Stars” with Dr. Gregory Ristow. 

Kiki looks forward to learning from Dr. Eric Stark and receiving the honor of working with the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir!

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