Stan Pethel is a Professor of Music at Berry College, located near Rome, Georgia. He also serves as Director of the Music Program for Berry. He holds the Bachelor of Music and Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Georgia and a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from the University of Kentucky.

Widely recognized as a composer and arranger, he has over 600 works in print with 23 national publishers for choral ensemble, instrumental groups, and keyboard. He has served as a conductor and clinician throughout the United States and in seven foreign countries. He has been awarded the ASCAP Standard Award annually since 1982.

He is married to the former Jo Ann Russell and has three children.