Dr. Josh Phelps

Conductor Bio

Dr. Charles Joshua "Josh" Phelps enjoys a diverse career as a conductor, performer, minister, auctioneer, and entrepreneur. He holds degrees in Vocal Performance from the University of Tennessee (Bachelor of Music), the University of Oklahoma (Master of Music), and the Graduate Theological Foundation (Doctorate of Sacred Music). As an accomplished tenor soloist and conductor, Phelps has performed in the world’s most celebrated venues including Carnegie Hall, several opera houses in Italy, and has conducted throughout the United States as well as Europe. Choirs and orchestras under his direction have been featured on national television broadcasts and have performed at state and regional conventions of the American Choral Directors Association, as well as at multiple high profile events for heads of states and presidents of the US and Canada. He has served as guest and principal conductor of several notable ensembles including Lovers Lane United Methodist Church Sanctuary Choir in Dallas, The Oklahoma City Community College Symphonic Choir, Oklahoma Choral Artists, Paserina Chamber Choir, Pathways Middle College Choir, Westmoore and Southmoore High School Choirs, DFW Brass, as well as Voci Nel Montefeltro in Italy. He has coordinated several collaborative choral events such as hymn festivals, Messiah sing-alongs, and Mozart in Memoriam, a concert commemorating the 20th Anniversary of the Murrah Federal Building bombing; as well as special projects in conjunction with the American Guild of Organists and the Oklahoma Alliance of Liturgy and The Arts. 

Dr. Phelps is a declared candidate for ordained ministry in the Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church and currently serves as Director of Music Ministries at Moore First United Methodist Church. He previously served at United Methodist Church of The Servant and Westminster Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City, as well as McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church in Norman, OK. He has helped raise nearly 3 million dollars in gifts for sacred settings and has commissioned and premiered over a dozen new works by composers such as Randol Alan Bass, Joseph Martin, Craig Phillips, Alan Pote, K. Lee Scott, Z. Randall Stroope, and Ovid Young. In addition to serving as a Committee Chair for the Graduate Theological Foundation, he has also taught at The University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City Community College, and Seminole State College. Dr. Phelps also enjoys mentoring beginning auction professionals and serves on faculty at Auctioneer University and Oklahoma Auctioneer School, as he is a 5-time Champion Auctioneer. He is in demand as a professional announcer and vocal coach, and is regularly invited to present at state auction associations and conventions where he is lovingly referred to as “The World’s Most Interesting Auctioneer.”

Josh and his wife, Dr. Lacey Phelps, own and operate DFW Brass and Phelps Fundraising & Auctions. They serve as fundraising consultants for non-profit organizations and have aided in raising several million dollars since 2021. They also enjoy traveling, jet skiing, scuba diving, tractor pulls, and life with their beloved rescue dogs: Gracey, Champ, and Harvey.