ANNE DOWNTON, MASTER DIRECTOR
Baritone, 2017 International Quartet Champions, Frenzy
Anne has been singing barbershop since 2000, when she joined Westcoast Harmony Chorus. She was instantly hooked and hasn't looked back since.
Anne became a co-director of Westcoast in 2005, and became the sole director in 2011. She earned the title Master Director (the youngest person ever to attain Master Director status, at the age of 24!) and, under her direction, Westcoast has won the Region 26 Chorus Competition multiple times, and also earned the title of 2013 International Harmony Classic Champions.
Anne is a member of the Sweet Adelines International faculty, having established herself as a trusted vocal coach for individuals, quartets and choruses around the world. She is also the chair of the Director Resource Toolkit Task Force. In the past, she has served as the Region 26 Education Coordinator, on the Region 26 Regional Education Faculty, and the International Music Sales & Marketability Committee.
Anne sings baritone with the 2017 International Quartet Champions, Frenzy. She also sang baritone with Young Women in Harmony quartet, Stir It Up, winning a 2nd place medal at the 2006 International Rising Star Contest after only 5 months of rehearsals.
Anne lives in the Greater Vancouver area, and in her “other life”, works at a law firm as a senior corporate legal assistant. In 2010, Anne completed her Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Criminology from Simon Fraser University.
RYAN HELLER, DIRECTOR
Ryan is thrilled to be leading the wonderful musicians of the Alamo Metro Chorus. For the past 17 years, he has been directing the Pride of Portland Chorus, with whom he has won eight regional championships and many top-ten placements at Sweet Adelines International Competitions. In 2013, Ryan became a Master Director 700, an honor few other Sweet Adelines directors can claim!
In his professional life, Ryan is the Artistic Director and Conductor of Chorus Austin in Austin, TX. With Chorus Austin, Ryan has received numerous awards, including the 2018 Austin Critic’s Table Award for Best Classical Performance, and the 2017 Dale Warland Singers Commission Award from Chorus America. Past positions include Music Director /Conductor of the Southwest Washington Symphony, and Co-founder/Conductor of Portland Vocal Consort and the Columbia Chorale of Oregon. His bachelor and masters degrees are in conducting and vocal studies from Chapman University and Portland State University.
Ryan has been the Musical Director/Chorusmaster of many productions throughout the West Coast including productions of: Sweeney Todd, Annie, Brigadoon, H.M.S. Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance, The Magic Flute, La Cenerentola, and in 2016 served as Conductor for the world premiere opera The Canticle of the Black Madonna; He has appeared or recorded with numerous groups, including the Austin Symphony, Portland Opera, Rose City Chamber Orchestra, William Hall Master Chorale, Capella Romana, Astoria Music Festival, and Broadway Rose Theater Company. He has had the pleasure of touring with several ensembles throughout the USA, Europe, New Zealand, and China.
A popular coach, speaker, and guest conductor, Ryan works to bring out the optimal performance in each musician. With his trademark exuberance, Ryan is as energy-driven as the sound and performance he demands!
