Artistic Director ​Ryan Main

  "At my core, I believe students should have a fun, uplifting, rewarding musical experience in every rehearsal. My mission is to teach, to inspire, and to empower young singers to be life-long music makers who seek excellence in everything they do."

Director, educator, and composer, Ryan Main has been leading choirs of all ages for over 12 years. Currently the Director of Music at Village Presbyterian Church, Ryan previously served as Director of Choirs at Van Horn High School and Nowlin Middle School in Independence, Missouri. Under his leadership, both choir programs were transformed, growing by hundreds of students. His choirs regularly earned superior ratings at all grade levels and were honored with a distinguished performance at the 2016 American Choral Director's Association Southwest regional conference at the Kauffman Center.

​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. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Composition from the University of Missouri - Kansas City's Conservatory of Music and Dance.

An award winning composer, his music has been published by Wingert Jones Publishers and performed internationally. His compositions have earned two 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 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.

---

​“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

"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

“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

"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