Musician

A native North Carolinian, Paul L. Anderson II (PLA2) is a PhD candidate in Music Education at the University of Missouri School of Music (Mizzou). At Mizzou, his appointments have included: director of Hitt Street Harmony, an auditioned ensemble specializing in vocal jazz and contemporary a cappella; assistant conductor of University Singers, Concert Chorale, Choral Union Symphonic Chorus, and Sankofa Chorale, a choral and instrumental space where singers, regardless of ethnicity, can perform the various genres of the Black tradition; and graduate teaching assistant and instructor of several courses.

Beyond academia, Mr. Anderson serves as director of Traditional Worship and the Chancel Choir at First United Methodist Church (Jefferson City, Missouri), and is the founding director of the Deep River Singers, a North Carolina–based vocal ensemble dedicated to the preservation and education of the Spirituals. Previously, he served as music director of the Eta Beta chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (Pembroke, NC), fine arts chair and choral director at Spring Lake Middle School (Spring Lake, NC), and conductor of the Carolina Sinfonians Chorus (Fayetteville, NC). 

As an undergraduate, Paul was one of only nine student conductors chosen for the 2018 Southern Region American Choral Directors Association Conference student conducting masterclass. In 2021, he was presented with the Ander J. Dunham Educator of the Year Award by the Spring Lake Kiwanis Club, and in 2023, he was honored with the inaugural Black Excellence in Music Award by the University of Missouri School of Music. In 2024, he was chosen for the Mizzou 18 award, an award dedicated to honoring 18 University of Missouri graduate and professional students chosen for their world-class research, collaboration with faculty and staff, and demonstrated leadership with undergraduate students. In February 2026, he was recognized by the College of Arts and Science with the Green Chalk Teaching Assistant Award in recognition of excellence in teaching, advising, and mentorship.

Paul holds degrees in music education and choral conducting from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and the University of Missouri - Columbia. He is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., the National Association for Music Education, and the American Choral Directors Association. He previously served as a member of the executive board of the North Carolina chapter of the American Choral Directors Association.