Ryan Keebaugh, Director of Choral Music and Associate Professor of Music at Bridgewater College, has been hailed by the Washington Post as an “energetic, expressive, concise, insightful, and sensitive” conductor. Ryan’s versatile and vibrant musicianship is well known for his expertise embracing singers of all ages, from young children and emerging choirs to university, community and professional choruses and has distinguished him as a leading music educator, guest conductor, and clinician to choral and ensembles throughout the United States. As an inspiring teacher, popular workshop clinician, conference presenter and adjudicator at choral festivals and educational workshops, he has presented workshops and master classes both nationally and internationally. Ryan’s collaboration work with American contemporary composers has distinguished him as an advocate for interdisciplinary collaboration in the arts, alternative venues, and new commissions. His choral ensembles have been invited to perform at international and national festivals, conventions, conferences, and historic locations including Radio City Music Hall, The Washington National Cathedral, St. John the Divine, New York University Steinhardt, The Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, Canterbury, and Edinburgh Cathedrals. Aside from his duties as a conductor and pedagogue, Ryan is an active member of the VMEA Creativity Council and was recently selected to serve The College Music Society's Mid-Atlantic Chapter as President Elect for 2022-2023.
Ryan has also maintained an active career within the marching arts. He has arranged and composed original music for several championship high school band programs in BOA, TOB, and USSBA circuits. He was a performing member of Carolina Crown and the Cadets and is an active consultant for several DCI World Class drum and bugle corps.
As a composer, Ryan’s “innovative and hauntingly beautiful" music has established him as a prominent composer and collaborator of his generation. Praised for its “gorgeous canvases of sacred minimalism" his music has been performed in venues throughout the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Europe, Japan, Brazil, and Russia. Ryan's music is commissioned, performed, and recorded by renowned ensembles and soloists, including The National Cathedral Choir, Stephanie Lamprea, R. Andrew Lee, Megan Ihnen, Musica Harmonia, Western Michigan University Chorale, University of South Florida Chamber Singers, Holly Roadfeldt, Fresno State Concert Choir, Ethos Collective, and the Great Noise Ensemble. Ryan has participated in the Tutti Music Festival, The Aspen Composers' Conference, the Capital Fringe Festival, the Interlochen Summer Music Festival, and has held residencies at Wildacres Artist Colony, Factory 449 Theatre Collective, and the Composers & Schools in Concert (CSIC). His compositions have received awards and recognition from The College Music Society, The Society of Composers, The American Choral Society, Analog Arts, ASCAP, the American Prize, the Raabe Music Prize, the Virginia Music Educators Association, and are published by MusicSpoke, Inc.
Originally from Martinsburg, Pennsylvania, Ryan holds degrees from The Catholic University of America (DMA), Shenandoah Conservatory (MM), and Bridgewater College (BA).
Ryan has also maintained an active career within the marching arts. He has arranged and composed original music for several championship high school band programs in BOA, TOB, and USSBA circuits. He was a performing member of Carolina Crown and the Cadets and is an active consultant for several DCI World Class drum and bugle corps.
As a composer, Ryan’s “innovative and hauntingly beautiful" music has established him as a prominent composer and collaborator of his generation. Praised for its “gorgeous canvases of sacred minimalism" his music has been performed in venues throughout the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Europe, Japan, Brazil, and Russia. Ryan's music is commissioned, performed, and recorded by renowned ensembles and soloists, including The National Cathedral Choir, Stephanie Lamprea, R. Andrew Lee, Megan Ihnen, Musica Harmonia, Western Michigan University Chorale, University of South Florida Chamber Singers, Holly Roadfeldt, Fresno State Concert Choir, Ethos Collective, and the Great Noise Ensemble. Ryan has participated in the Tutti Music Festival, The Aspen Composers' Conference, the Capital Fringe Festival, the Interlochen Summer Music Festival, and has held residencies at Wildacres Artist Colony, Factory 449 Theatre Collective, and the Composers & Schools in Concert (CSIC). His compositions have received awards and recognition from The College Music Society, The Society of Composers, The American Choral Society, Analog Arts, ASCAP, the American Prize, the Raabe Music Prize, the Virginia Music Educators Association, and are published by MusicSpoke, Inc.
Originally from Martinsburg, Pennsylvania, Ryan holds degrees from The Catholic University of America (DMA), Shenandoah Conservatory (MM), and Bridgewater College (BA).
