Dr. Ryan R. Brown has been praised for his evocative conducting, flexible vocalism, and charismatic leadership. Committed to broadening the choral audience through captivating programming and innovative performance practices, Brown cultivates passionate and expressive vocal artistry which empowers performers to connect with their humanity and inspire audiences.
Brown is a Lecturer of Music at The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. He also serves as the Artistic Director of the Laguna Beach Chamber Singers and a Teaching Artist for the Voces8 Foundation. In previous roles, Brown served as Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Lone Star College – University Park, Choral Director at California School of The Arts – San Gabriel Valley, Artistic Director of the Arroyo Singers, Associate Conductor for the National Children’s Chorus, Artistic Director for Diamonds From the Dust, and Choral Director at Wachusett Regional High School.
In addition to his career as a conductor and educator, Brown enjoys a career as a lyric baritone and has performed as a soloist with several major orchestras including the Philadelphia Orchestra and the New Haven Symphony Orchestra. As an ensemble artist, he regularly engages with professional choral ensembles across the country. Ensembles include Houston Chamber Choir, Quartz Ensemble, Vox Ardens, LA Masterchorale, Red Shift, and Concora. As a passionate advocate and scholar of 21st-century oratorio and cantata, Brown recently performed in several newly written works including Daniel Kangg’s Two Streams, Sarah Kirkland Snider’s Mass For The Endangered, and the Grammy Award-winning recording of Richard Danielpour’s The Passion of Yeshua.
Brown holds a BM in Music Education from Westminster Choir College, and two graduate degrees in Choral Conducting (MM & DMA) from UCLA.