Artistic Staff
Ryan Heller
Described as exciting, dynamic and charismatic, Ryan Heller leads the award-winning Chorus Austin as Conductor and Artistic Director, having joined Austin’s vibrant classical music scene in 2009.
Mr. Heller and Chorus Austin have received numerous awards, including the Dale Warland Singers Commission from Chorus America, a two-time American Prize finalist, and winner of the national Chorus America/ASCAP Alice Parker Award, given to recognize a chorus for programming recently composed music. The ensembles of Chorus Austin have been named one of the Top 10 Classical Musical Treasures by Robert Faires of the Austin Chronicle several times since Heller has led the organization.
Mr. Heller has led ensembles across the United States with appearances at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and Chicago’s Symphony Hall. He has toured internationally in Italy, Germany, New Zealand, Finland, Estonia, Sweden and, China, where he led combined choirs from Texas at the Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing and at the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai.
He served as Co-Founder, Conductor and Artistic Director of the Portland Vocal Consort, one of Portland, Oregon’s, premier professional choirs, and spent a decade as the Conductor/Artistic Director of the Southwest Washington Symphony; In 2001, he Co-Founded the Columbia Chorale of Oregon, a group he led until 2010. Today, in addition to leading Chorus Austin, he is the Director of the award-winning Pride of Portland Chorus.
A passionate advocate of new music, as well as a lover of opera and musical theater, Heller’s credits include: Music Director/Conductor for the world premiere of the opera The Canticle of the Black Madonna; Music Director/Conductor for regional productions of Brigadoon, Pirates of Penzance, H.M.S. Pinafore, Sweeney Todd, Annie, Company and Into the Woods; Chorus Master for Norma, La Cenerentola, Die Fledermaus, Carmen, and The Magic Flute, among others. An active performer, he has appeared and/or recorded with the Portland Opera, William Hall Master Chorale, Choral Cross-Ties, Portland Baroque Orchestra, Capella Romana, Lakewood Theater Company and the Broadway Rose Theater Company. He has collaborated with or guest conducted the Austin Symphony, La Follia Austin Baroque, and the Rose City Chamber Orchestra
An Oregon native, Mr. Heller received his Master of Music degree in Conducting from Portland State University and his Bachelor’s of Music degree in Conducting from Chapman University. He is in frequent demand as a conductor, singer and coach.
Artistic Director & Conductor
Levi Lebsack earned a Bachelor of Science in Music from Washington and Lee University in Lexington, VA. While completing their degree, Lebsack founded Refuge Chamber Choir, a student ensemble featured in local church services, conventions, and conferences.
Upon entering the career field, Lebsack revitalized the middle school choral program at All-Saints’ Episcopal School while simultaneously serving as Assistant Music Director for the Dallas-based chamber choir, Inspirata. Currently, he works as a Graduate Instructional Assistant at Texas State University and as the Assistant Conductor of the Austin Symphonic Chorus.
When not researching the traditional music of the Appalachian Mountains, Lebsack can be found planning his next tournament for the Texas Smash Bros Melee community or chasing after his next ace at the local disc golf course.
Levi Lebsack
Assistant Conductor
Administrative Staff
Bob Wolff
Bob has been a Board Certified Registered Music Therapist for nearly 40 years and worked for Austin ISD for over 20 years before going into private practice. He was the Assistant Artistic Director of the Austin Gay Men’s Chorus and also served as the Assistant Conductor, and Baritone Section Leader before he made his way to Chorus Austin. Bob also served on the administrative side of the AGMC and Capital City Men’s Chorus in a variety of roles including Board President, Chorus Coordinator, and Production Manager.