Farthing, Scott

Scott Farthing is a Southern California based conductor, composer, pianist, vocal pedagogue, stage director and actor with a professional career spanning over thirty years. Dr. Farthing has conducted All-State choirs, regional honor choirs, as well as college, church, high school and junior high choirs throughout the country as a guest clinician. He is most noted for his choral compositions which are featured in choral standard lists across the United States. 

In 2005, Farthing was appointed Professor of Music at Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, California, a position that he still holds. While at Saddleback, Farthing has taught all levels of voice class, Applied Music, Choirs, Musical Theatre, Honors Humanities, Honors Music Appreciation, and served as the Chair for the Department of Music.

He continues working on collaborative projects with the Theatre and Dance Departments and has directed productions including Legally Blonde, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Godspell, Beauty and the Beast, Little Shop of Horrors and She Loves Me. He also directs the Opera 101 outreach program where he has directed productions of The Medium, The Goose Girl, The Telephone, Mitridate, Gallantry, The Old Maid and the Thief, The Elixir of Love, and Dido and Aeneas. 

In addition to his work in Academics and Music, Farthing has become a noted speaker and writer. With invitations to speak at churches and community groups, he has encouraged people with insight to approaching their lives with confidence and inspiration by using their stage fright and fear of failure as motivation and a weapon for success.

Dr. Farthing is currently Music Director at St. Mark Presbyterian Church, Newport Beach, California.

Dr. Farthing received the Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory where he had the privilege of being both accompanist and Assistant Director for all the choirs under Eph Ehly and Charles Robinson.