Ryan Holder is the Artistic Director of the Children’s Chorale of Flagstaff and conducts the high school ensemble, Madrigal Singers.  Dr. Holder is also currently the Associate Director of Choral Studies at Northern Arizona University, where he directs the Women's Chorale and Vocal Jazz Ensembles, teaches undergraduate conducting and methods, oversees choral student teachers, and serves as the advisor for the NAU student chapter of the American Choral Directors Association.

Ryan recently finished his doctoral work in Choral Conducting from the University of Miami, where he studied under professor of music, Jo-Michael Scheibe and Donald Oglesby.  His doctoral essay, A Method for Using Digital Video Technology with BlackboardTM as a Supplemental Tool in the Undergraduate Conducting Class illustrates how conducting examples can be posted online for student viewing and evaluation.  Dr. Holder holds Bachelors and Master's degrees from Southern Oregon University and University of Northern Colorado, respectively.

Before coming to NAU in the fall of 2006, Ryan taught in the Oregon public school system for 5 years.  His choirs won awards in both vocal jazz and traditional choral music, including first prize in the Women’s Choir division at the Vienna Youth and Music Festival in 2001.