The Indianapolis Symphonic Choir’s Conducting Fellowship

In Partnership With 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 Jade Willian, Our 2024-2025 Conducting Fellow

Jillian is a second-year Master’s student in choral conducting at Butler University, and graduate of Hope College with a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Music Education. She has performed with choirs all over the world, from South Africa to New York City! Wade spent two years in the classroom before pursuing her Master’s and took students at Indian Creek Middle School to ISSMA in 2023, where all three choirs earned a Gold rating. She also teaches voice and beginning piano at the Meridian Music School in Carmel and serves as Music Director for the M3 Theater Camp.

Jillian says, “It’s a great honor to be selected for this assistantship, and I know that I have big shoes to fill.” About the day she was selected, she says, “I was ecstatic! I immediately felt a great sense of responsibility to the ISC, and I cannot express how excited I am to begin working with them!” In her free time, she loves to cook and bake, eat pasta, go outside, and exercise. Fun fact: she also worked as a baker at a blueberry farm in Michigan for two summers after college!