James Fronczek

James Fronczek was born in upstate New York where he received an Associate of Arts Degree from Auburn College. He then received his Bachelors’ Degree in Music Education and Masters' Degree in Music History and Composition from Butler University. He taught middle school students at St. Thomas Aquinas School following graduation, then joined the staff of Eastbrook Elementary School, MSD Pike Township in 1971, for twelve years before becoming the Head Choral Director at Pike High School in Indianapolis. He taught at Pike High School for 21 years and developed it from a very small department of about 70 students, to over 350 choral students in ten choirs. His choirs were active in all types of music, having won the State Championship Award in Concert music as well as winning many Show Choir competitions. After 33 years of teaching, he took early retirement in 2004 to pursue other career opportunities, but remains active in choral music as a clinician and adjudicator around the Midwest.

He was the founder and director of the Greater Indianapolis Choral Company, and had served as Minister of Music for several churches in the Indianapolis area. He has also been very active in musical theatre, having directed over 30 musicals. During his teaching career he was selected Pike Townhip’s candidate for Indiana Teacher of the Year and was also awarded the Indiana Department of Education”s Bellringer Award in 2004 by Dr. Suellen Reed. He has served on the executive boards of the Indiana Choral Directors Association and American Choral Directors Association. He and his wife Sarah, have two adult sons, Ben and Adam.