Scott Hochstetler

Professor of Music

Education

B.A., Goshen College, 1997
M.M., University of Michigan Ann Arbor, 2000
M.A., Western Oregon University, 2005
D.M.A, Michigan State University, 2008

Contact

scottmh@goshen.edu
(574) 535-7929
Music Center 217 (map)

Scott Hochstetler, DMA, is Professor of Music at Goshen College, where he teaches and conducts in the choral, vocal and opera/musical theater areas. He is also the musical director of Camerata Singers, an area professional choir. Previous appointments include Western Mennonite School (OR), the University of Michigan – Flint, and Corban College (OR).

Dr. Hochstetler is a diverse conductor, having successfully led church, school, college, and community ensembles, and worked with singers from novice to professional. Under his direction, the Goshen College Men’s Chorus performed to acclaim at the ACDA regional convention in March 2012. Hochstetler is an active guest clinician, and has led groups on tours throughout the USA and Canada. He served as guest conductor for the 2024 and 2016 Mennonite Schools Council choral festivals and the 2020 District 2A Circle the State with Song middle school choir. He also guest-conducted the 2014 Southwestern Michigan College Choral Boot Camp and the MSVMA Men’s Choral Invitational in Berrien Springs, MI, and he has helped prepare local high school singers for the Indiana All-State Choir since 2009. Hochstetler is the founder and music director for the annual Goshen College Low Voice Festival. He has also prepared choruses for performances with the symphony orchestras of Elkhart, Ft. Wayne, Toledo, Lansing and Detroit, including Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with Elkhart County Symphony in 2023 and the Verdi Requiem with the Ft. Wayne Philharmonic in 2015. In 2023, Hochstetler guest-conducted the Elkhart County Symphony and Camerata Singers in Vivaldi’s Magnificat.

In May 2015, Hochstetler appeared with the Goshen College Chamber Choir on NPR’s A Prairie Home Companion. In 2015-16, Hochstetler and the Chamber Choir appeared in concert with Bobby McFerrin and famed Norwegian baritone Njål Sparbo. In 2010, Hochstetler was chosen as the second director in the 40-year history of Camerata Singers, the premier chamber choir in Northern Indiana. In 2023, Camerata Singers recorded “The Gift to Sing” on works by composer Lee Dengler, and they performed a concert of Dengler’s works, collaborating with three area high schools. In commemoration of Camerata’s 40th anniversary in 2014, Hochstetler led the Goshen College Chamber Choir and Camerata in a performance of Tallis’s 40-part Spem in Alium. In the 2016-17 season, Hochstetler conducted Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil with the GC Chamber Choir and Camerata with Grammy-winning basso profundo, Glenn Miller, and in 2016, he conducted the GC Orchestra and combined choirs in the US collegiate premiere of Larry Nickel’s Requiem for Peace. Hochstetler conducted the world premiere of Bruce Trinkley’s Mennonite Songs with poetry by Julia Kasdorf in fall 2017.

In the areas of opera and musical theater, Hochstetler has served as music director and/or conductor for numerous productions including Into the Woods, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Orfeo ed Euridice, The Pirates of Penzance, Godspell 2012, Le Nozze di Figaro, Dido and Aeneas, Old Maid and the Thief, Urinetown, Utopia Limited, Trial by Jury and The Music Man. Hochstetler served as music director of the Goshen College Musical Theatre Camp from 2015-2018, and 2021-22.

As a baritone, Dr. Hochstetler has performed opera and oratorio roles and given recitals in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Oregon. In 2023, he sang the baritone solo in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with the Elkhart County Symphony under the baton of Soo Han. He also performed as baritone soloist in Fauré’s Requiem with the Toledo Symphony and Goshen College choirs under the baton of Vance George in 2012. Hochstetler has also performed as soloist with the Elkhart and Lansing Symphonies, Michigan State University Chorale and the Goshen College Chamber Choir and has sung in choirs under major conductors including Vance George, Helmut Rilling, Nicholas Kramer, Robert King, Gustav Meier, Dennis Keene and Moses Hogan. In fall 2016, he performed as Melchior in Amahl and the Night Visitors and presented a recital of Dichterliebe and The Songs of Travel in spring 2017. In fall 2023, he presented La Bonne Chanson by Fauré. A passionate vocal pedagogue, Hochstetler’s voice students have consistently placed highly in vocal competitions, including winners of the 2019, 2016 and 2013 Indiana NATS competition and runners-up of the 2019, 2017 and 2014 competitions. Hochstetler’s former voice students have earned advanced degree in voice from schools such as Bowling Green State University, Ball State University and Yale University. Two of his former students, Josh Liechty and Caleb Liechty, together with their sister Bekah, won NBC’s The Voice in December 2021 as the folk trio Girl Named Tom.

As a scholar, Hochstetler’s interests are choral diction and peace-themed choral masterworks. The Choral Journal has published his work on Vaughan Williams and federalism, and he is also the co-author of Translations and Annotations of Choral Repertoire, Volume II: German Texts, IPA pronunciation guide, published by earthsongs, with a second book on French and Italian diction in process.

In addition to teaching in the music department, Hochstetler led three consecutive Study Service Terms in Peru during the 2018-19 school year. Together with his wife Rachel Hostetler and local coordinators, he helped administer a program serving 49 students. Along with studying culture and language and living with families in Lima for the first six weeks, the students performed voluntary service in the provinces for the final six weeks. Hochstetler helped place two students for the first time in service locations with Sinfonia por El Perú, a social change music program started by Peruvian tenor Juan Diego Florez in 2009 and modeled after Venezuela’s El Sistema.

Hochstetler holds a DMA in choral conducting from Michigan State University, a double MM in conducting and voice from the University of Michigan, an MAT in education from Western Oregon University, and a BA in music and biology from Goshen College. He has studied conducting with David Rayl, Sandra Snow, Jonathan Reed, Jerry Blackstone, Theodore Morrison and Kenneth Kiesler, and he has studied voice with Leslie Guinn, Stephen Lusmann, Doyle Preheim, Richard Fracker, and Anthony Frisell.

Dr. Hochstetler lives in Goshen, Indiana with his wife Rachel and two children, Leah and Aaron. In his spare time, he enjoys cooking Thai food and riding his bike on the Pumpkinvine Trail.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE (UNIVERSITY)

Professor of Music, 2017-Present

Associate Professor of Music, 2011-2017

Assistant Professor of Music, 2008-2011

Goshen College: Goshen, Indiana

Co-lead the voice and choral programs. Teach voice for music and non-music majors. Sing in faculty recitals and lead weekly masterclasses. Take students to annual NATS competition. Direct Chamber Choir, a select 30-40 voice mixed ensemble, and Vox Profundi, a select 30-50 low voice ensemble. Periodically prepare and conduct choirs in major works. Lead Vox Profundi and Chamber Choir on periodic tours. Teach Conducting, Aural Skills, Diction for Singers, Vocal Pedagogy, and Opera Workshop. Music Director/Conductor for Operas and Musical Theater productions. Serve on faculty committees. Lead singing in chapel, faculty retreats, commencement, and alumni hymn sings. Led 3 SST (Study Service Terms) to Peru during the 2018-19 school year.

Lecturer, 2005-2008

University of Michigan—Flint: Flint, Michigan

Taught voice for music and non-music majors. Taught lessons, led weeklymaster-classes and sang in faculty recitals. Taught Lyric Diction for Singers, Choral Techniques and Opera Workshop. Taught Vocal Techniques and conducted select high school women’s choir in rehearsals and performance for the annual UM Flint Senior Academy (2006).

Teaching Assistant, 2005-2008

Michigan State University: East Lansing, MI

Assisted and did supervised and unsupervised teaching in advanced conducting class for undergraduate music education majors. Taught private conducting to graduate students in collaborative piano. Assistant conductor for Chorale, the premier mixed choir, and State Singers, a select undergraduate mixed choir. Conducted both in rehearsals and performances. Taught Vocal Techniques and Conducting and conducted a chamber choir for the 2006 MSU Choral Camp.

Adjunct Voice Instructor, 2004-2005

Corban College: Salem, Oregon

Taught voice to music and non-music majors. Taught lessons and sang in faculty recitals.

Teaching Assistant, 1998-2000

University of Michigan—Ann Arbor

Assistant conductor for University Choir, a select undergraduate choir, and Women’s Glee Club. Conducted both in performances and rehearsals. Chorusmaster for University of Michigan Opera Theatre. Directed auditions and recruitment for the productions of Mozart’s The Magic Flute and Floyd’s Susannah (Music Director, Kenneth Kiesler). Conducted in rehearsals.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE (SECONDARY SCHOOL)

Music Director, 2000-2005

Western Mennonite School: Salem, Oregon

Directed middle school and high school programs which included five choirs (two touring choirs) and two bands, involving over 80% of student body. Directed Spring Musical, Trial by Jury, and served as vocal coach for Godspell, The Music Man, and The Sound of Music. Implemented a voice studio into Western Mennonite School’s program. Private students performed with distinction at district and state solo/ensemble competitions. A cappella choir performed with distinction at district and state competitions (1st place at 2A State Championships in 2005 and runner–up in 2004, 2003, and 2002). High School Band placed third in its first appearance at the district festival. Led choir tours to Canada, California, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Virginia, and Washington D.C.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE (CIVIC CHORUS)

Music Director, 2011-present

Camerata Singers: Elkhart County, IN

Audition singers, select repertoire, rehearse and conduct a 24-28-voice professional chamber choir based in Michiana with repertoire ranging from Renaissance through Modern periods. Seasons include both fall and spring concerts. Major works have included Woo’s Requiem Aeternam, Brahms’s Requiem, Whitacre’s Leonardo Dreams, Handel’s Messiah, Tallis’s Spem in Alium, Bach’s Komm, Jesu komm, Lauridsen’s Mid-Winter Songs, Duruflé’s Requiem, and Vivaldi’s Magnificat. Hand-picked by the predecessor, David A. Seitz, to be the 2nd director in its 36-year history.

Music Director, 2007-2008

Ingham Festival Chorale: Mason, MI

Selected repertoire and rehearsed 40-voice community choir, presenting an annual concert in April (2007-Vivaldi Gloria and Mendelssohn choruses, 2008-Mozart Coronation Mass).

Assistant Conductor, 2007-2008

Arts Chorale of Greater Lansing: East Lansing, MI

Led warm-ups and conducted 60-voice community mixed choir in rehearsals and performances.

Assistant Conductor, 2005-2008

Choral Union

Michigan State University

Conducted 120-voice School of Music community mixed choir in rehearsals.

Music Director, 1999

University of Michigan Gilbert & Sullivan Society: Ann Arbor, Michigan

Served as Music Director/Conductor for Utopia Limited. Conducted four performances (10 total services) involving 27-piece orchestra and over 30 stage performers. Directed all musical aspects of the production, including casting, vocal rehearsals, recruitment of orchestral players, orchestral rehearsals, orchestral sectionals, and accompanying.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE (GUEST CONDUCTING/CLINICING/CHURCH MUSIC/VOCAL COACHING)