Conducting Fellow

Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Japanese-American conductor Shohei Kobayashi aspires to synthesize his insights as singer/songwriter, multi-genre bandmate, choral musician, and art song interpreter to inspire deeply personal musical experiences. Following two years assistant conducting at his alma mater Lewis & Clark College and at First Presbyterian Church of Portland, Shohei moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan to study with Jerry Blackstone. In 2016, Shohei began serving as assistant conductor of the UMS Choral Union. In the 2017-18 academic year, after earning his MM in conducting, Shohei continued into the DMA program at University of Michigan and served as director of the Residential College Singers and guest conductor of the University Choir. Following Dr. Blackstone’s retirement at the end of the 2017-18 year, Shohei will continue his doctoral studies with Dr. Eugene Rogers.

This past year, Shohei was selected as an MCP Conducting Fellow for the 2017 NCCO Conference, assistant conductor at Hot Springs Music Festival, and conducting fellow at the Princeton Festival masterclass. In previous years, Shohei was selected as the Robert Page Conducting Fellow for Berkshire Choral International’s apprentice program, conducting fellow at the Norfolk Chamber Choir and Choral Conducting Workshop, and conducting masterclass participant at the 2015 NCCO Conference. This summer, in addition to participating in Chorus America’s 2018 Conducting Academy, Shohei will be a conducting participant at the Illinois Choral Conducting Symposium, assistant to Dr. Blackstone at his Choral Conducting Institute at Interlochen, and serve as apprentice at the Interlochen Adult Choir Camp.