Ryan Person is director of choral activities and assistant professor of music at Morningside University in Sioux City, Iowa. At Morningside, his choirs have been recognized and honored for their performance excellence since his arrival in 2018. Person conducts the fifty-member Morningside Choir, which is celebrated across the region for its exceptional choral artistry and programming. The choir tours to continental and international locations each year, including upcoming travel to Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic in 2022. In addition to the Morningside Choir, Person directs the university’s popular tenor/bass chorus, Camerata, and teaches courses in conducting and choral methods.
During his time at Morningside, Person has served as a visionary for new campus festivals and events, while reimagining and honoring existing traditions. In 2019, Person founded Morningside’s All-State Choral Camp, which serves high school students from across Iowa. He has also developed additional on-campus clinics, honor choirs, and choral invitationals which have firmly connected the university with the regional choral community. Upon beginning at Morningside, Person established the CODA Legacy Award, Morningside’s pinnacle achievement for visual and performing arts alumni, faculty, and staff, and has served as committee chair since its inception. He has also heightened Christmas at Morningside, the School of Visual and Performing Arts annual holiday performances, which attract thousands of spectators each year.
As an experienced conductor and educator, Person has accepted numerous professional invitations throughout the Midwest and Texas. His choirs have been invited to perform at the North Central American Choral Directors Association Conference and the Iowa Choral Directors Association Showcase, and he has presented at the National Collegiate Choral Organization Conference with mentor Richard Bjella. Person has been a popular guest conductor and choral clinician throughout his career, and he will make his conducting debut at Carnegie Hall in New York City in 2023.
Prior to Morningside, Person studied and taught at Texas Tech University where he served as graduate assistant conductor. As a high school choral director, he taught for ten years in public schools, most notably enriching the regionally-recognized choral music program at West High School in Iowa City, Iowa.
Studying with many of the profession’s finest conductors, Person earned a doctor of musical arts degree in choral conducting from Texas Tech University, master of music degree in choral conducting from Michigan State University, and bachelor of arts degree from Luther College.
EVENT DETAILS
Itinerary
Saturday, March 15
Morning or Afternoon arrival to New York City, check-in to hotel
Afternoon free for sightseeing
Evening Rehearsal
Sunday, March 16
Morning Rehearsal
Afternoon Broadway Show
Evening free for sightseeing
Monday, March 17
Morning brush-up Rehearsal
Afternoon free for sightseeing
Sound check at Carnegie Hall
Evening concert
Post-concert buffet reception
Tuesday, March 18
Depart New York City
Repertoire Selections
Splendor (from Illuminare)
Elaine Hagenberg
SATB, piano
Elaine Hagenberg Music
Spring Rain
Ēriks Ešenvalds
SATB, acoustic guitar
Musica Baltica
TāReKiTa
Reena Esmail
SATB, percussion
Oxford University Press
O salutaris hostia
Pierre de la Rue
SATB (first verse only)
Insanae et vanae curae
Franz Joseph Haydn
SATB, piano (first 2.75’ only)
Can We Sing the Darkness to Light?
Kyle Pederson
SATB, piano
Walton Music
Examine Me
Cedric Dent
SATB, piano
Walton Music
OCTAVO Series PAckages
For Directors who want it all
Festival Chorus performance with a nationally-recognized guest conductor
Sound check and performance at New York City’s legendary Carnegie Hall, Isaac Stern Auditorium
Post-concert buffet reception
mp3 part learning tracks to assist with preparation
Audio and video archival recording of the performance
Commemorative framed mini marquee poster for the ensemble
Certificates of participation for each performer
Three-night stay at a Midtown Manhattan hotel (Westin Times Square, Sheraton New York, or similar)
MTA Transit pass for use on subways and buses (two one-way rides included with upgrades available)
Group Tickets to a Broadway show
Top of the Rock observation deck
MCP operations associate for personal attention regarding your package
Flight assistance available through in-house airline coordinator
One year of membership for the ensemble director to the online learning platform, Forward Motion
For Directors using a tour operator or who want
to book their own lodging and activities
Festival Chorus performance with a nationally-recognized guest conductor
Sound check and performance at New York City’s legendary Carnegie Hall, Isaac Stern Auditorium
mp3 part learning tracks to assist with preparation
Audio and video archival recording of the performance
Commemorative framed mini marquee poster for the ensemble
Certificates of participation for each performer
One year of membership for the ensemble director to the online learning platform, Forward Motion