Middle School Choir Clinician
2024-25
Ryan Beeken
Wichita State University
Ryan Beeken serves as Director of Choral Activities and Associate Director for the School of Music at Wichita State University where he conducts the Concert Chorale and Madrigal Singers, teaches graduate and undergraduate choral conducting and literature, oversees the choral area and also serves as associate director for the school of music. 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 70 All-States and Honor Choirs in twenty-one states, the Czech Republic, Austria, Ireland, Oman, and Estonia, and many invited presentations for symposia across the United States and in Ljubljana, Slovenia. He currently serves on the executive committee of the American Choral Directors Association as the National R&R Chairperson for Student Chapter Development and has previously served at both the regional and state level; Beeken was also the President for the District 3 Pennsylvania Music Educators Association.
Prior to his appointment at WSU, 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 led a program of over 300 students and twelve ensembles to national distinction.
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 70 All-States and Honor Choirs in twenty-one states, the Czech Republic, Austria, Ireland, Oman, and Estonia, and many invited presentations for symposia across the United States and in Ljubljana, Slovenia. He currently serves on the executive committee of the American Choral Directors Association as the National R&R Chairperson for Student Chapter Development and has previously served at both the regional and state level; Beeken was also the President for the District 3 Pennsylvania Music Educators Association.
Prior to his appointment at WSU, 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 led a program of over 300 students and twelve ensembles to national distinction.