Kevin Fenton

Kevin Fenton is professor of choral conducting and ensembles and the director of the University Singers at The Florida State University. Dr. Fenton has conducted the University Singers in performances at regional and national conventions of ACDA and MENC on five occasions. A champion of new music, Dr. Fenton has conducted over twenty premiere performances—most recently Jeffrey Ames “I Can Feel the Spirit” (2011); Troy Robertson’s “American Echoes,” Eric Barnum’s “In Paradisum,” Sydney Guilliame’s “Au-Déla du Chagrin,” Clifton Callender’s “Reasons to Learne to Sing” (2010); and “The Soul’s Passing” by Dominick DiOrio in 2008. Dr. Fenton has prepared choirs for Robert Shaw, Krzysztof Penderecki, Simon Halsey and Bobby Mc Ferrin, and he has guest conducted choirs in more than 35 states, including 16 all-state choirs. Additionally, Kevin conducted the ACDA Southern Division High School Honor Choir in 2008 and the Beijing International Choral Festival Choir with China’s People’s Liberation Orchestra as a part of China’s Choral Conductor’s Meeting in 2007.

Kevin also conducts the FSU Vocal Jazz Ensemble and teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in choral literature and choral conducting: his textbook Foundations of Choral Conducting has been adopted by more than thirty universities. Dr. Fenton is a recipient of the Gamma Mu Chapter of Delta Omicron Music Professor of the Year Award and the FSU University Teaching Award for Excellence. For the past four years Kevin has served as the Artistic Director of the Festival Singers of Florida, a choir of professional musicians based in Orlando dedicated to “inspiring and engaging through impassioned singing.”

Prior to his arrival at The Florida State University in 2000, Dr. Fenton served as Director of Choral Activities at James Madison University and Virginia Tech and taught for six years at Topeka High School. Throughout his career, Kevin has been an active member of the American Choral Directors Association and he currently is serving as president-elect of the southern division.