Dr. Ryan Beeken

Dr. Ryan Beeken

Wichita Symphony Orchestra Chorus Director and Conductor

Dr. Ryan Beeken serves as Director of Choral Activities at Wichita State University where he conducts the Concert Chorale and Madrigal Singers, teaches graduate and undergraduate choral conducting and literature, and oversees the choral area. He received his 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 50 All-States and Honor Choirs in nineteen states, the Czech Republic, Austria, Ireland, Oman, and Estonia, and many invited presentations for symposia across the United States and in Ljubljana, Slovenia. He has served on the executive committee of the American Choral Directors Association at both the state and regional level and just completed a term as the President for the D3 Pennsylvania Music Educators Association. 

Prior to his appointment at WSU, Dr. Beeken served as director of 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.

Wichita Symphony Chorus