Ryan Rhodes:
CLASS OF 1987
Norman High SchoolClass of 1987
Norman, OK
West Mid-High SchoolClass of 1985
Norman, OK
Whittier Middle SchoolClass of 1983
Norman, OK
Kennedy Elementary SchoolClass of 1980
Norman, OK
Ryan's Story
Ryan Rhodes is from Norman Oklahoma. He was born August 14th 1969 in Oklahoma City Oklahoma at Baptist Medical Center. In 1976, at the age of 7, he auditioned and was selected to perform in the Bicentennial Choir. This choir toured the United States and sang for President Jimmy Carter. He has been focused on vocal stage performance ever since the young age of eight.
RyanâÂÂs first role was the child leadâÂÂOliverâ in Oliver Twist. Ryan started taking vocal instruction from Dr. Ray Ballew at the University Nazarene College in Oklahoma City. He went on to perform in six more Operas and Musicals at the University of Oklahoma with Director Jane Birkhead before the age of eleven. Ryan attended Kennedy Elementary K-5, Whittier Middle School 6th-8th, West Mid High 9th-10th, and Norman High School 11th-12th. His favorite classes were Music, Drama, Spanish, and British Lit.
Ryan is a four year consecutive Oklahoma All State âÂÂBassâ Choir Member- Freshman through Senior of High School.
He graduated Norman High School performing the lead in the musical Carousel as âÂÂBilly Bigelowâ as well as participating in Choir and Competition Showchoir all 4 years. Ryan contributed to the Norman High School Band and Orchestra playing clarinet and bass clarinet under the instruction of Dr. Brad Benson and Dr. John Clinton. His favorite high school piece performed is âÂÂCarmina Buranaâ by Carl Orff. RyanâÂÂs other passion all throughout lower and upper grades has been baseball. Ryan grew up wanting to wear the Yankee uniform just like his Uncle Bobby Murcer.
Ryan attended the University of Oklahoma and the University of Central Oklahoma.
Ryan had the pleasure and great honor to have Tamara Long (original role in Dames at Sea) as an acting coach for 4 years.
He auditioned vocal studios and was selected to study voice with Kay Creed (Opera Mezzo-19 seasons with the Metropolitan Opera Company)
He participated in many performing ensembles including the University of Oklahoma Choir, University Men's Ensemble, UCO Jazz Ensemble, UCO Arts and Awareness Council, University Mixed Choir, and was the only undergraduate selected to perform in the O.U. graduate studies Chamber Ensemble group under the direction of Dr. Dennis Schrock.
During the summers, Ryan worked at DISCOVERYLAND and at Santa Fe Opera and the Southwest Repertory Theatre (1989 - 1991)
Ryan sang for 4 consecutive years in Broadway Gala âÂÂUniversity of Oklahoma Show Choir under the direction of Dr. Irv Wagner. In 1993 Ryan traveled internationally performing with his brother in France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and Austria.
Ryan participated as performer and EMCEE for 4 years hosting University Sing and Sooner Scandals. Ryan performed in all Musicals and Operas under condition of full scholarship all 4 years.
University awards and achievements include:
⢠The Dean's Arts and Achievement Award (1997)
⢠Keynote Speaker for the College of Fine Arts
⢠Bachelor of Arts in Musical Theatre/Opera Minor
In 1994, while performing at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Ryan met Jana Belitz. Jana is from Omaha Nebraska and graduated from Oklahoma City University in OKC with a degree in dance performance. They married in 1997. She is an alumni of Kitty Lee Dance Studio. In 1997 Ryan and Jana sang and danced in International waters as Ambassadors for Premier Cruise Lines.
The highlight of Ryan's career has been almost a decade managing and performing as the lead of the day manager in a professional - world renowned acapella group called Voices of Liberty at Epcot. Voices of Liberty have performed for every President of the United States since Ronald Regan. Voices continues to be the most sought after show at Walt Disney World with over 56,000 auditioning each year for only 8 spots. At Walt Disney World, Ryan subbed for 6 years at the Beauty and the Beast Stage at MGM Studios for a pre show called 44$ and Return 2 Zero acappella group. Ryan has enjoyed working for many Radio Disney projects and helping to facilitate the Magic Music Days Workshop programs with Chuck Jones and Mike Smith. Ryan was the EMCEE and Show Host for many Disney Events including the ABC Wide World of Sports Complex and the ABC Colgate Country Showdown. During his time with Voices of Liberty Ryan performed for many celebrity and dignitary.
Some of which were:
Former President of the United States George Bush, Michael Jackson, Liza Minnelli, Sandy Patti, Ben Vereen, Steven Curtis Chapman, John Tesh, George Kennedy, 3 Dog Night, James Earl Jones, Robert Urich,
Lee Majors, Mary Hart, Leeza Gibbons, Fred Rod...Expand for more
gers, Jeb Bush, Art Linkletter,
Robbie Benson, Consulate General of Japan, Chuck Swindoll, Clint Brown, Max Lucato, Thomas Kinkaid, Yolanda Adams,
Christopher and Dana Reeve, Angela Lansbury, Lou Diamond Philips, Point of Grace, Jars of Clay, Switchfoot, Joseph Campanella, Richard Crenna, Edward James Olmos, Olympia Dukakis, Barry Bostwick , David Ogden Stiers , Mickey Rooney, Stephen Collins, Louis Gossett Jr., Marie Osmond, Dick Van Dyke, Andy Garcia, Hector Elizondo, Deidre Hall, CeCe Winans, Arturo Sandoval, Mark McGuire,
Jane Seymour, John Stamos , Jon Voight , David Robinson, John O'Hurley, Neil Patrick Harris, Dennis Franz, Phylicia Rashad, Kirk Franklin, Kirk Cameron,
Gary Sinise, Rita Moreno, Englebert Humperdink, Dan Rather, Story Musgrave,
Marlee Matlin, Jim Caviezal, Charles Kimbrough, Phil Collins, Survivor, Loverboy, Starship, Isabella Rossellini, Anika Noni Rose, Chita Rivera, Abigail Breslin,
Whoopi Goldberg, Courtney B Vance, Daniel Roebuck, Brian Dennehy, Angela Bassett, Harry Hamlin, George Hamilton,
Vanessa Williams, Kellie Coffee, Jessica Simpson, Sandy Patti,
Wayne Brady, LeVar Burton, Marvin Hamlisch, Jodi Benson, and many more.
In Orlando, Ryan enjoyed working as a professional voice-over artist /jingle singer/ session singer with Walt Disney, Warner Brothers, Universal Studios, Integrity Worship, the Golf Channel, and Jeff Arthur production studios. RyanâÂÂs great joy has been performing the World Premier of âÂÂFreedom; A Salute to American Libertyâ written and orchestrated by David Clydesale.
While in Orlando, Ryan was involved full time as a professional choir member at Mary Queen of the Universe Shrine with Dr. Bill Pitcher and
Monsignor Joseph Hart.
Ryan continued to perform in Florida consecutive years at âÂÂThe Springsâ and perform on stage with the Orlando Philharmonic and the Orlando Symphony under the direction of Maestro Hal France.
In 2004, while still performing at WDW, Ryan took on a full time staff position as Contemporary Music Minister/Worship Leader/Worship Praise Team Coordinator for Conway United Methodist Church. It was his calling to grow the Music program and to lead the praise and worship during service. He worked closely with the youth and their families - teaching rehearsals and leading the band and choir in worship. It was at Conway that Ryan had the honor to enjoy Glenn Longacre as his pianist. Glenn won an Academy Award for the sound and sound effects for the movie âÂÂBraveheartâÂÂ. Ryan enjoyed many recording sessions with Glenn at the Golf Channel. In 2004, Glenn Longacre started a VOIP/CISCO COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS COMPANY called MERIDIAN. While continuing to work at Walt Disney and Conway, Ryan was also a Sales Rep for MERIDIAN selling to Key Accounts in the Orlando Resort Industry.
In 2007, wanting to be closer to family, Ryan left Walt Disney World as performer and Lead of the Day Manager and moved to Omaha where he lives with his wife Jana and three little children.
Besides singing at St Robert Bellarmine, teaching voice at SNJ Studios, and Kitty Lee Dance Studios- he has many interests.
These include Sales and Management Training, Real Estate Finance, Technology Training, Small group and Large Group Presentations, Investments, Golfing, Fishing at Lake Okoboji IA, water skiing, Organizational Development, Church Involvement, VBS, Men's Prayer Breakfast, Omaha Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Club, Holland Performing Arts Center, Opera Omaha, Manheim Steamroller, Honey do lists!, Sooner Football, Yankee Baseball, having more hero's like Bobby Murcer, USFIRST.ORG, building with Legos, grilling out, Texas Hold'em with my Jedi Knight Orlando Nerds, Star Wars, Omaha Children's Museum, Omaha Zoo, Strategic Air and Space Museum, spending time with the love of his life and three little children. Having a 30 something attitude, anxious, moving, talking, txting, coffee slamming, Tower of Power, Jazz jamming, U2 cranking, right-doing, chronic listening, wife adoring man.
Ryan has been a Nebraska resident in Omaha the past three and a half years where he has been a Sales Representative with Pearson Education presenting Elementary Curriculum for all of Ne and SD PreK- grade 6 - all subjects.
For the past nine months Ryan has been the GUESS ophthalmic Sales Representative for Viva International Group.
Ryan currently works as a Loan Officer for Finance1 in Omaha Nebraska, is a member of the Target Team, teaches voice at SNJ Studios, and is a vocal instructor for a vocal performing arts group at Kitty Lee Dance Studio.
Ryan is on Linked In, ZoomInfo, and Facebook under C. Ryan Rhodes.
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