Dr. Stan Pethel is Chair of the Fine Arts at Berry College near Rome, Georgia. He has been on the music faculty there since 1973. He holds a Bachelor of Music and Master of Fine Arts degrees from the University of Georgia and a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from the University of Kentucky. In addition to his duties as Chair of the Fine Arts at Berry College, Dr. Pethel teaches music theory, composition and arranging, world music, and low brass lessons.

He is a widely published composer and arranger with over 850 works in publication with 23 different publishers. His writing includes works for choir, piano, organ/piano duet, symphonic band, jazz ensemble, orchestra, handbells, solo instrument and piano, and various chamber music ensembles.  

He is married to Jo Ann Pethel, a pianist and music educator. They have three grown children – Mary Ellen, a high school history teacher and coach; Rob, a music educator; and Joseph, a Health and Physical Education major at Berry College.