Dr. Jonathan Palant, Founder & Conductor
Jonathan Palant is Associate Dean of the Arts and Director of Choral Activities at the University of Texas at Dallas and is founder and conductor of both Credo, a 115-member community choir, and the Dallas Street Choir, a musical outlet for those experiencing homelessness and disadvantage. In addition, Dr. Palant is Director of Music at Kessler Park United Methodist Church and is employed by the Dallas Independent School District to mentor middle and high school vocal music teachers.
In the coming year, Dr. Palant will present at the American Choral Directors Association National Conference in Kansas City, MO and at music conferences in California, Florida, Indiana, Montana, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Additionally, he will conduct all-state choirs in both Illinois and Massachusetts.
In June 2016, Dr. Palant made his Carnegie Hall conducting debut performing with renowned artists Frederica von Stade, Harolyn Blackwell, Jake Heggie, and Broadway composer Stephen Schwartz.
From 2007-2011, he served as Artistic Director of Dallas’ Turtle Creek Chorale. Prior to that, Palant held collegiate teaching positions at Western Kentucky University and Madonna University, Livonia, Michigan. He taught secondary choral music at University School, an all-boys independent school in Cleveland, Ohio, and San Pasqual High School in Escondido, California.
Dr. Palant currently serves as president of the National Alliance for Music in Vulnerable Communities and sits on the board of directors of the Intercollegiate Men’s Choruses. He has also served on the state board of the Michigan chapter of the American Choral Directors Association and Youth First Texas where he was founder and conductor of Dallas PUMP!, a choir serving at-risk youth.
Both of Palant’s books, "Brothers, Sing On! Conducting the Tenor-Bass Choir" and "Brothers, Sing On! The Jonathan Palant Choral Series," are published by Hal Leonard Co.
Scott Ayers, Piano
A native of Greenville, South Carolina, Scott Ayers has been a church musician since the age of twelve, has accompanied musical theater productions since his late teens, and is in high demand as a collaborative artist throughout the DFW (Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas) metroplex. In addition to serving churches in South Carolina, Oklahoma, and Texas, he has presented keyboard concerts in more than a dozen states, and accompanied choirs throughout the US, several European countries, and Canada. Scott is currently a Dallas area freelance musician, serves as Associate Conductor and Principal Keyboardist for the Turtle Creek Chorale, and pianist for the Dallas Street Choir. Recently, he has joined the music staff of East Dallas Christian Church as organist/pianist. Scott has been the musical director for several local theaters as well as several schools in the DFW area. He holds a degree in Music Theory and Composition and has done graduate work in Jazz Theory and Composition. He has produced four albums and has a number of published arrangements for choir, keyboard, and orchestra.