Ryan Deignan | ryandeignan@my.unt.edu

B.A. Vocal Performance, Luther College

M.A. Music Education, University of Iowa

Ryan Deignan is in his second year as a DMA student in choral conducting at the University of North Texas and currently serves as the Associate Conductor of the UNT Grand Chorus, Instructor of Conducting Fundamentals, and Instructor of Foundations of Music. Prior to his doctoral work, Deignan earned his Master of Arts in Music Education at the University of Iowa under Jeremy Manternach. At the U of I, he also studied voice with Stephen Swanson and conducting with Timothy Stalter. Deignan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance from Luther College where he studied conducting with Craig Arnold and voice with Edwin Andereck. 

From 2012-2016, Deignan led the West Des Moines Valley HS choral program of over 350 students, seven traditional choirs, two show, and four jazz choirs. Under his direction, Valley Singers performed at the 2016 NC-ACDA Convention in Sioux Falls, SD, at the Luther College Dorian Choral Invitational, and with the Iowa State Singers and Nordic Choir on their annual tours. Valley's show and jazz ensembles also earned top marks under Deignan's direction. Prior to West Des Moines, Deignan was Associate Director of Choral Music at Cedar Rapids Washington High School where he directed a Slice of Jazz, winner of the 2012 Iowa Vocal Jazz Championship. 

In addition to teaching and conducting, Deignan has performed with the Cedar Rapids Chorale and Orchestra Iowa as tenor soloist and Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre as tenor soloist and young artist. In 2011, he was chorusmaster of CROT’s production of Lehar's The Merry Widow. In 2016, Deignan was tenor soloist for the University of Iowa Choirs and Orchestra’s performance of Schubert’s Mass in Ab. In 2018-19 he will perform professionally with Orpheus Chamber Ensemble, Dallas Bach Society, and Denton Bach Society. He lives in Argyle (TX) with his wife, Abby, a nurse practitioner, and dog, Rumi.