Artistic Director Ryan Main
Director, clinician, and composer, Ryan Main has been leading choirs of all ages for over 15 years. Ryan is the founder of the Youth Chorus of Kansas City, and directs YCKC Intermezzo and the Youth Chorus of Kansas City.
Ryan holds a Masters of Music in Music Education and a Masters of Music in Music Composition from the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University where he studied with composers Kevin Puts and Michael Hersch. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Composition from the University of Missouri - Kansas City's Conservatory of Music and Dance where he studied with composer Chen Yi.
An award winning composer, his music has been published by Wingert Jones Publishers and is performed internationally. His compositions have earned Editor’s Choice distinctions from JW Pepper, and have been performed at honor choir events, honor band events, and conferences around the nation, including the Midwest Band Clinic and American Choral Directors Association state and regional and national conferences.
Ryan is passionate about quality music education for all, and is a member of the American Choral Directors Association, the Missouri Choral Directors Association, the National Association for Music Education and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. He currently serves as representative on the National Association for Music Education's council on Music Composition.
Ryan holds a Masters of Music in Music Education and a Masters of Music in Music Composition from the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University where he studied with composers Kevin Puts and Michael Hersch. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Composition from the University of Missouri - Kansas City's Conservatory of Music and Dance where he studied with composer Chen Yi.
An award winning composer, his music has been published by Wingert Jones Publishers and is performed internationally. His compositions have earned Editor’s Choice distinctions from JW Pepper, and have been performed at honor choir events, honor band events, and conferences around the nation, including the Midwest Band Clinic and American Choral Directors Association state and regional and national conferences.
Ryan is passionate about quality music education for all, and is a member of the American Choral Directors Association, the Missouri Choral Directors Association, the National Association for Music Education and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. He currently serves as representative on the National Association for Music Education's council on Music Composition.
“Our students LOVED Ryan. He is incredibly relatable and sincerely cares for students. Parents raved about his compositions and how their students came home and told stories of what they had learned.”
- Daniel Gutierrez, Director, Reed Academy Middle School, 2017 American Choral Directors Association National Conference Performing Choir
- Daniel Gutierrez, Director, Reed Academy Middle School, 2017 American Choral Directors Association National Conference Performing Choir
"Ryan’s instruction is engaging and entertaining! He does an outstanding job of maintaining a fun, learning-centered atmosphere, while holding students to high expectations.”
- Alex Kolster, Director, Raytown High School Choirs
- Alex Kolster, Director, Raytown High School Choirs
“Mr. Main conducted our regional Honor Choir this year. What a fantastic experience it was for the students, teachers and audience! Students were challenged, engaged, motivated and entertained!”
- Karla Avery, Coordinator, Eastern Jackson County Honor Choir
- Karla Avery, Coordinator, Eastern Jackson County Honor Choir
"Ryan's work with the Greater Kansas City Chorister's Guild Youth Festival in January was a wonderful experience for our students. We hope to work with him again."
- Suanne Comfort, President, Greater Kansas City Chorister's Guild
- Suanne Comfort, President, Greater Kansas City Chorister's Guild