Dr. Porter Stokes - Choirs, Voice, Intro to Music, Conducting
BS, USC; MM, USC; DMA, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
Office Phone: 833-8468
E-mail:pstokes@presby.edu

Dr. James Porter Stokes II is Professor of Music at Presbyterian College.  He currently serves as the Chair of the Department of Music and Coordinator of Choral and Vocal Activities.  He received his BA in Music Education and MM in Vocal Performance from The University of South Carolina.  He received the DMA from the College-Conservatory of the University of Cincinnati where he studied conducting and choral literature with Earl Rivers, John Leman, and Elmer Thomas.  Dr. Stokes teaches classes in conducting, an introductory course in music for music majors, and conducts the PC Choir and Armonia.  As coordinator of the choral program at PC, Dr. Stokes is responsible for the annual Christmas event, Christmas at PC, and for tours by the college choirs.  In addition to his college duties, Dr. Stokes is the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Augusta (Georgia) Choral Society where he conducts a 100-voice symphonic chorus that presents an annual subscription series of concerts featuring major works with orchestra.  He is a member of the American Choral Directors Association, the MENC (SCMEA), the Presbyterian Association of Musicians, the College Music Society, and the National Association of Schools of Music.  Prior to his appointment in 1998 to the faculty at PC, Dr. Stokes served in a similar position at Erskine College from 1988-1998 and, previously, taught in middle school, high school, and junior college positions.  Dr. Stokes also has 33 years of experience in church choral work in a variety of liturgical perspectives including Baptist, Episcopal, Methodist, and Presbyterian.