“The Spanish language is not treated with the attention and nuance that we often do for many of the languages used for singing auditions. There’s this myth that Americans can't make certain sounds, but in other rehearsals, we work really hard at intense French and German sounds. A lot of composers who aren't familiar with the language set the text in ways that don't make sense and change the meaning. I'd like to keep working at repairing the positionality of Spanish in academic places.”

Dr. Ryan R. Fellman is an American conductor based out of the greater Atlanta area. At Kennesaw State University he conducts the Chamber Singers, University Chorale, Men's Ensemble, and Community and Alumni Chorus. He also teaches courses in conducting and choral literature.

A recent graduate from Michigan State University, Fellman studied under Drs. David Rayl, Sandra Snow, Jonathan Reed, and Derrick Fox. There he served as assistant conductor to several prominent university ensembles including the University Chorale, Choral Union, Singing Spartans, and the Opera Theatre program. Prior to his time at Michigan State, Fellman earned a Master of Music degree in choral conducting from Ithaca College, studying under Dr. Janet Galván.

From 2013-2019, he served as Director of Choirs at Oñate High School in Las Cruces, New Mexico, significantly expanding the program's enrollment and fostering collaborations with notable choral artists and composers.

Fellman has guest conducted choirs and orchestras across the United States in California, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin.  He was selected as a conducting fellow for the Chorus America Choral-Orchestral Conducting Academy in 2023 and 2025.

Fellman holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Music Education from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota where he sang in The Concordia Choir under the direction of Dr. René Clausen.

Outside of his career, Fellman enjoys traveling and spending time with his beautiful Heeler-Lab companion, Shadow.

To get in touch with Ryan, you can find him on Facebook (@rrfellman) or Instagram (@ryanrfellman)

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Photo in episode artwork by Trace Hudson