Dr. Eliezer Yanson Jr.

The Festivals welcomes Dr. Eliezer Yanson Jr. as our guest clinician for Festival '26. Dr. Yanson serves as professor of music and director of choral activities at Jacksonville State University where he conducts the A Cappella Choir and Civic Chorale and teaches undergraduate and graduate music classes. Prior to his appointment at Jax State, he served on the music faculty at Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina. He earned a doctor of musical arts degree in choral conducting from the University of South Carolina, a master of music in church music (conducting) and a bachelor of music in piano performance from Bob Jones University. His main conducting mentors have been Larry Wyatt and Warren Cook. Dr. Yanson has also worked and studied with André Thomas, Don Portnoy, Paul Vermel, Dian Tchobanov and Hilary Apfelstadt.

An active adjudicator, conference speaker, and clinician, Dr. Yanson has conducted choirs and clinics in the United States, Thailand, Bulgaria, and in his native Philippines. He is a two-time 3rd prize winner (2015 and 2023) in conducting – college/university chorus division of The American Prize and has appeared in Carnegie Hall as conductor in 2015, 2018, and 2023. His other ongoing responsibilities include Collegiate Chair, Alabama American Choral Directors Association; Editorial Board, The Choral Scholar & American Choral Review; and Faculty Advisor, JSU American Choral Directors Association Student Chapter.

While passionate about conducting and teaching, Eliezer’s greatest role is being husband to Martha and father to Isabella and Andre.