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
Lilly Boessen
Ms. Boessen is honored for the opportunity to collaborate with the fantastic musicians of Chorus Austin. She recently graduated summa cum laude with her Bachelor of Arts in Music in the Spring of 2023 from Austin College in Sherman, Texas. While completing her degree, she served as Assistant Director of the AC A Cappella Choir. She now studies under the direction of Dr. Craig Hella Johnson and Dr. Joey Martin at Texas State University, where she will complete her Master of Music in Choral Conducting in the Spring of 2025. She previously served as Assistant Director of the Texas State Chorale and University Singers and currently serves as Director of the Texas State Treble Choir. She performs with a number of ensembles including the Texas State Chorale and Austin Cantorum and is proud to be one the founding members of the Conspirare Artist Citizen Choral Collective directed by Dr. Johnson. She previously studied voice with Mrs. Sylvia Rivers in Sherman, TX and now studies under the direction of Mrs. Juli Wood in Austin, TX. After completing her Masters, Ms. Boessen plans to pursue doctoral study in Choral Conducting, working toward a career as a university professor of choral music.
Assistant Conductor
Administrative Staff
Michael Evans
Interim Executive Director
Michael Evans is honored to serve as the Interim Executive Director of Chorus Austin, a vibrant institution at the heart of Texas’s music community. Though he spent over a decade in the tech industry, Michael’s true passion has always been music, nurtured by the rich artistic environment of his hometown, Austin.
Michael believes music is a powerful tool for building community and fostering meaningful connections. His commitment to organizations like Chorus Austin reflects this belief, as they create not only outstanding musical experiences but also enrich the lives of audiences and performers alike.
Michael joined Chorus Austin as a singer in 2021 and deepened his involvement by serving on the Board of Directors during the 2023-24 season. His firsthand experience of the organization’s transformative impact inspires his vision to expand its reach and touch more lives.
Outside of his professional role, Michael enjoys playing piano, practicing flute, and spending time with his gray tabby kitten, Bartholomew. He also appreciates the simple pleasures of a good meal, time with friends, and the occasional video game.
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.