Ryan R. Fellman

Chancel Choir Director

   On August 1, Ryan R. Fellman joined our staff as Chancel Choir Director. A professional music educator, Ryan is 9th - 12th Grade Choir and Piano Teacher at Onate High School in Las Cruces. Ryan has a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Music Education from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, with a minor in Spanish. There he organized student choruses, directed the Vocal Jazz II, and brought together two independent ensembles for concert. He worked on conducting techniques with Dr. Rene Clausen. who has composed several of the anthems in our music library. During his student years in Brainerd, Minnesota, Ryan played trombone regularly with a brass ensemble and has studied instrumental methods including strings, brass and percussion. He has been a private music lesson instructor in Minnesota and here in Las Cruces. At Concordia he played in the Symphonia Orchestra and the Trombone Choir as well as sang and led rehearsals with the Concordia Choir. Ryan has been affiliated with the American Choral Directors Association since 2008. He is currently active with the New Mexico ACDA, serving as their Webmaster. He has been involved with the Minnesota Oratorio Society and has spoken at the Concordia College Faith, Reason and World Affairs Symposium. He holds Life Rank in Boy Scouts of America. As you can see, our new Choir Director has a background of very active participation in music and community. He hasn’t retreated since moving to our area. Participation here includes Co-founding “Real Men Sing–Las Cruces,” and Musical Director for the Starlight Children’s Theater production of Patience last summer and just recently for Gilbert & Sullivan’s Iolanthe. His references call him enthusiastic for music, likeable, talented, organized, and hard-working. He told the Search Committee that he works to be an instructive director.
 Worship music brings a message so must be presented with clarity and meaning, he says; and it needs to be rewarding for the singers and fun. What a challenge for the choir singers. One of Ryan’s references called him a pied piper who genuinely loves people. He explained when asked during his interview “How did you grow your choir from 35 to over 100 singers?” His method: whenever I hear a singer I just keep reminding them that they could be sharing their talent; thus gifts will pop out among the congregation. So be prepared to be lured to First Presbyterian Choir. We are fortunate to be able to welcome this talented Christian musician to direct our Chancel Choir and build on the First Presbyterian Church outreach with music.

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Last update 2015-08-07 00:07:52