J. Scott Ferguson received his undergraduate training at Oberlin Conservatory in organ performance, studying with Haskell Thomson.  He completed graduate studies in choral conducting at the University of California, Irvine, earning the Master of Fine Arts, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he earned the Doctor of Musical Arts.  He has studied choral conducting with Robert Fountain, Joseph Huszti, Howard Swan and Daniel Moe, orchestral conducting with David Becker and James Smith, and voice with Joseph Huszti, Robert Fountain and Beverly Rinaldi.

Prior to his appointment as Director of Choral Activities and Associate Professor of Voice and Conducting at IWU, he was Director of Opera and a choral conductor at the State Conservatory of Music in Bratislava, Slovak Republic. He has also served on the faculties of the University of California, Irvine, The College of Wooster, Plymouth State College and Hope College. In addition to his work at IWU, Dr. Ferguson also serves the Second Presbyterian Church as director of the Chapel Choir.