Chorus Austin is pleased to welcome Ryan Heller as the new Music Director for the Austin Civic Chorus and Austin Vocal Arts Ensemble.

Ryan Heller

Mr. Heller is currently the Conductor and Artistic Director of the Columbia Chorale of Oregon, which is entering its seventh season this fall, as well as being the Conductor and Music Director of the Southwest Washington Symphony. He is also the Director of the championship Pride of Portland Chorus of Sweet Adelines International.

A native Oregonian, Ryan completed his M.M. (summa cum laude) in Conducting from Portland State University and his B.M. (summa cum laude) in Conducting from Chapman University.

At PSU, Mr. Heller conducted the Madrigal Choir, Women’s Chorus, and has served as the chorus master of the PSU Opera as well as Assistant Conductor of the acclaimed Chamber Choir.

Ryan as served as Musical Director of a wide variety of productions throughout California and Oregon, including Brigadoon, Pirates of Penzance, H.M.S. Pinafore, Sweeney Todd, Annie, Company, and Into the Woods, among others. This spring, he will premiere a new production of The Ballad of Jesse James with the Columbia Chorale of Oregon.

As Music Director of the Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church in Costa Mesa, CA, he appeared with the choir on the acclaimed Victoria Recital Series, earning the group reviews as “the best church choir in Orange County,” as well as recording the ensemble’s first CD.

Mr. Heller is also an active performer, having appeared and/or recorded with groups such as Portland Opera, William Hall Master Chorale, Choral Cross-Ties, Portland Baroque Orchestra, Capella Romana, Lakewood Theater Co., and the Broadway Rose Theater Company. Among his honors, Ryan received the Dean’s Award from Chapman University and the Young Artists’ Award from the National Recording Academy. Mr. Heller is in frequent demand as a conductor, singer and coach, and has been hailed by critics as “exciting, charismatic, and intelligent — a young conductor to keep our eyes on.”

Board of Directors

Lance Lein, Chairman
David Hayes, Vice Chairman
Catherine Huyck, Immediate Past Chairman
Fran Rush, ACC President
Janet Forman, ACC Representative
Gail Minault, Historian
Silva Cowin, AVAE President
Lauren Cove, Consort Representative
Angela Fleming, Secretary
Jim Trice, At-Large
Emily Palmer, At-Large

Chorus Austin Staff

Ryan Heller, Music Director/Conductor- Austin Civic Chorus, Austin Vocal Arts Ensemble & Chorus Austin Consort
David Utterback, Rehearsal Accompanist
Barbara Durham, ACC Soprano Section Leader
Jean Lein, ACC Alto Section Leader
Joe Robillard, ACC Tenor Section Leader
Robert Hartigan, ACC Bass Section Leader