Published on Sep. 18, 2025
Updated on Sep. 17, 2025
By: Kampbell Hemeyer
Paul Anderson II stands at the intersection of music and leadership at Mizzou. Now entering his fourth year at Mizzou and second year as a doctoral student in music education, Anderson has devoted much of his time to the Mizzou School of Music as a dedicated conductor, educator and mentor known for his commitment to both his craft and his students.
“I really try to get to know students and connect with who they are as people,” Anderson said. “I’m affiliated with two fraternities, and both have chapters on campus. They’ve fluctuated in their size and level of involvement, but getting to engage with those members has been one of my greatest joys.”
Anderson plays a pivotal role in Fraternity and Sorority Life as a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He is very active with the National Pan-Hellenic Council Executive Board, having served as chair for a campus-wide step show and formerly serving as a council president at his alma mater. These leadership opportunities have helped him establish relationships with students and foster community. Some of his proudest moments at Mizzou, he said, were watching his mentees graduate.
But his mentorship goes beyond his Greek affiliations. As a graduate teaching assistant in music education and choral conducting, he has taught a range of music courses and directed several Mizzou ensembles, including Hitt Street Harmony, a vocal jazz ensemble. Outside the classroom, he has overseen student-led music groups such as ZouSoul and the LBC Gospel Choir. Not to mention, founding a vocal ensemble in North Carolina known as the Deep River Singers.
“If you name a choir at the University of Missouri, I have either sung in it or done some sort of work for it—either on the podium or behind the scenes,” he said. “It’s been great connecting with people through choir.”
When he’s not making music, Anderson conducts research in the field of ethnomusicology, the study of music within its cultural context, with particular interest in spirituals and folk music of the American South. He explains that his research has taught him the importance of stepping back to see the bigger picture, and its importance when considering the variables involved in the history of music and its development into the art it is today.
This fall, Anderson will continue his doctoral studies in pursuit of becoming a collegiate educator. He credits much of his inspiration and support to faculty mentors, including Brandon Boyd, Ph.D., Wendy Sims, Ph.D., and former professors Kari Adams, Ph.D. and R. Paul Crabb, Ph.D.
After already receiving his Master of Music in Choral Conducting at Mizzou, he reflects on his campus journey as one of consistent development, both personally and professionally.
“My experiences here have helped me grow and I continue to evolve,” Anderson said. “I don’t have it all figured out…but Mizzou has given me a space to explore and grow as a mentor, conductor and person.”
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