Alan L. Alder

Alan Alder is serves as Director of Choral Activities at Anderson High School. Prior to his appointment at AHS, he was an Assistant Professor of Teaching in the School of Music at Ball State University, where he served as Producer/Director of the world-renowned Ball State University Singers, Indiana’s Official Goodwill Ambassadors, and taught Music History. Under Dr. Alder’s direction, the University Singers won the gold medal at the 2012 World Choir Games, making them the World’s Number One Collegiate Entertainment Organization. The group also won the top prize at the Xinghai International Choral Championships in Guangzhou China, making them the most awarded collegiate entertainment group in competition history. In 2018, the University Singers toured England and performed a concert with The Funky Voices, one of the world’s premiere pop music choirs. Prior to working at Ball State University, he served as Director of Choral Activities at AHS from 2001-2008 and is thrilled to be back home.

Alder holds the Doctor of Arts and Master of Music degrees in choral conducting, and the Bachelor of Music Education in choral and instrumental music. He is a sought-after adjudicator, clinician, guest conductor, and has conducted and performed with artists such as Grammy Award winner Sandi Patty, Broadway’s Eden Espinosa, Doc Severinsen, and jazz legends J.J. Johnson and Jiggs Whigham. Alder published The Show Choir Handbook in 2016, and Essentials in Music Appreciation in 2017. He made his Carnegie Hall conducting debut in May of 2022.