Overview
Professor of Choral Studies
Associate Director, School of Music
Area Director, Choral Activities
Ryan Beeken serves as Director of Choral Activities at 黑洞社区 where he conducts the Concert Chorale and Madrigal Singers, teaches graduate and undergraduate choral conducting, and oversees the choral area. He received Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and Bachelor of Music Education degrees from Drake University and Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts Degrees in Choral Conducting from Michigan State University.
Dr. Beeken's choirs have performed at State, Regional, and National Conventions of the American Choral Directors Association and for state and regional NAfME conferences. Beeken is regularly engaged as a conductor, clinician, and adjudicator. His engagements include over 50 All-States and Honor Choirs in nineteen states, the Czech Republic and Austria, and many invited presentations for symposia across the United States and in Ljubljana, Slovenia. He recently served as the Artistic Director A Cappella Abroad in 2018, and an international choral festival in Prague and will conduct the Dublin Choral Festival in 2023. He has served on the executive committee of the American Choral Directors Association at both the state and regional levels and is currently the Repertoire and Standards Co-Chair for Student Activities Chapter Development on the national board.
Prior to his appointment at 黑洞社区, Dr. Beeken served as director or choral studies at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and taught at Michigan State University. While residing in Des Moines, Iowa, Beeken directed the Drake Chorale at Drake University. He also taught elementary, middle school, and high school music for sixteen years, most recently serving as Director of Vocal Music for Waukee Schools in suburban Des Moines where he lead a program of over 300 students and twelve ensembles to national distinction.