Adam Potter serves as Visiting Assistant Professor of Choral Music Education at the University of Missouri School of Music. A recognized “teacher of teachers,” his approach blends musical excellence with holistic pedagogy, inspiring singers and conductors alike to approach music-making with both precision and humanity. He strives to unite singers from diverse backgrounds into cohesive, expressive communities whose performances reflect both their evolving strengths and the joy of shared artistry.

Passionate about nurturing the next generation of choral leaders, Dr. Potter provides individualized instruction and significant podium opportunities to aspiring conductors, guiding them toward careers marked by artistic excellence, rigorous pedagogy, and empathy-driven, relationship-based leadership. His students have consistently earned prestigious placements in American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) conducting masterclasses and secured graduate assistantships for advanced study in choral conducting. Many now serve as successful choral conductors and music educators across the country.

Dr. Potter’s own academic journey began under the guidance of Brandon Johnson at Houghton College and continued at Florida State University, where he earned a PhD in choral conducting and music education while studying with renowned educators Judy Bowers, Kevin Fenton, and André Thomas. Before coming to Mizzou, Dr. Potter was Director of Choral Activities and Associate Professor of Music at Roberts Wesleyan University in Rochester, New York, where he conducted The Roberts Chorale, Coro di Voci Treble Choir, and Redhawk Voices Tenor–Bass Chorus, administered the university’s comprehensive choral program, mentored choral music education majors, and taught coursework in conducting, vocal methods, and music education. There, he revitalized the choral program, introducing innovative repertoire and performance designs structured around carefully crafted thematic arcs that enhanced student engagement and enthralled audiences at major conferences and on tour in the United States, Canada, France, and the Baltics. Earlier in his career, he distinguished himself as Director of Choral Activities at Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi and developed thriving and growing vocal music curricula as Director of Vocal Music at Dansville High School in New York.

An active guest conductor, clinician, adjudicator, and presenter, Dr. Potter has led at honor choirs, choral-orchestral collaborations, choral competitions, and music education workshops across the United States. Internationally, he has conducted the LifePlus Fine Arts Festival Choir in Tianjin, China, served as visiting scholar at the Saint Petersburg State Conservatory in Russia, lectured at the Kenya Conservatoire of Music, and collaborated with the Nairobi Chamber Chorus. His dynamic presentations span diverse topics, including music literacy, ensemble vocal technique, program building for emerging teachers, and the unique challenges and opportunities in rural music education.

His research agenda explores sight-singing pedagogy, voice building in the choral rehearsal, and the integration of servant-leadership principles to ensemble conducting. Situated at the intersection of pedagogy and leadership, his work seeks to empower conductors to foster ensembles where skilled musicianship, sound vocal technique, expansive repertoire, and interpersonal belonging are inseparably linked.

Deeply committed to professional service, Dr. Potter has held leadership roles with ACDA in both New York and Mississippi. Additionally, he holds memberships in the National Association for Music Education, the Golden Key International Honour Society, and Pi Kappa Lambda.

The first in his family to attend college, Dr. Potter proudly traces his roots to rural Pennsylvania, where his upbringing on a family dairy farm instilled values that continue to guide him: respect for the dignity of hard work, belief in the transformative power of education, and dedication to cultivating meaningful relationships. Outside his professional work, Dr. Potter remains an adventurer at heart. He treasures opportunities for global travel, hiking, exploring varied cuisines, visiting wineries, and fostering committed friendships—endeavors that reflect the same curiosity, joy, and love of community that he brings to his musical life. Learn more about Dr. Potter and his work at www.AdamPotterMusic.com.