Director of Choral Activities

Coordinator of Vocal Studies

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Education

• D.M.A, University of North Texas, Choral Conducting
• M.M., Texas Tech University, Choral Conducting
• B.M.E., University of Missouri - Kansas City, Choral Music Education
• B.M., University of Missouri - Kansas City, Voice Performance

Teaching Specialties

• Choral Ensembles
• Conducting
• Historical Performance
• Secondary Methods

Research Interests

• Conducting Pedagogy
• Pre-Service Teacher Education
• Historical Performance Practice
• Editing Manuscripts and Early Prints

Affiliations

• American Choral Directors Association
• Conductors Guild
• Early Music America
• Society for Research in Music Education
• National Association for Music Education

Curriculum Vitae

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Biography

Ryan W. Sullivan is the Director of Choral Activities, Coordinator of Vocal Studies, and Assistant Professor of Music at Arkansas State University. He conducts the flagship ensemble Concert Choir, Jonesboro Chorale, and Chamber Singers. He teaches coursework in conducting and music education, and serves as an advisor to students in all three of the university’s undergraduate music degrees.
Prior to his time at A-State, Sullivan was the Associate Conductor for the Dallas Symphony Chorus and served as the conductor of Collegium Singers and Baroque Orchestra, the University of North Texas’ early music ensembles. In 2018, he was awarded the Adams-Nordstrom Award for Early Music Studies. In addition to older works, Dr. Sullivan enjoys bringing new music to life, having conducted two North American opera premieres and world premieres of choral music by Robert Beaser, Derek Jenkins, James Eakin III, and Douglas Helvering.
Sullivan has served as an invited conductor and clinician for choral festivals in Arizona, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Texas with additional upcoming engagements in Arkansas, Germany, and Portugal. His credits as a baritone soloist and in professional choral ensembles include the Santa Fe Desert Chorale, San Antonio Chamber Choir, The Cecilia Ensemble (GA), Spire Chamber Ensemble, Boston Early Music Festival, and Austin Baroque Orchestra. In Fall 2022, he will be a soloist in Las Vegas Sacred Music Series’ performance of Charpentier’s Messe de Minuit, H.9.
Sullivan serves as current Past-President for the Southwestern Region of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). He was the 2014 recipient of the Prelude Award from Missouri ACDA. In 2023, he will be one of six American conductors to participate in ACDA’s International Conducting Exchange Program with the German Choral Association. He holds a Doctor of Music Arts from the University of North Texas, a Master of Music from Texas Tech University, and undergraduate degrees in Music Education and Vocal Performance from the University of Missouri – Kansas City Conservatory of Music. His principal teachers have been Allen Hightower, Richard Bjella, Joshua Habermann (conducting), Vinson Cole and William Joyner (voice), and Brad Bennight (continuo harpsichord).