Ryan Saunders

Ryan Saunders is executive director of the Chorus of Westerly (RI). A 200-voice intergenerational chorus, Westerly is a rare chorus in that children, alongside adults, sing every concert of a season regardless of the programmed work's length or difficulty. In its 56-year history, thousands of area children have had the chance to sing major choral works in the Chorus's historic performance hall. Saunders was one of these children, having sung with the ensemble from age 7 through 18.

Prior to his recent professional tenure in Westerly, Saunders was manager of music events and public relations for Tufts University. During his nine years at Tufts, Saunders helped open and manage the university's Granoff Music Center. In 2009, he was the recipient of the Tufts Change Agent Award for creating new opportunities for innovation.

As executive director of the Chorus of Westerly, Saunders has helmed several major projects including the organization's first-ever music director search in 2012. In 2014, Saunders led 227 people on the Chorus's first international tour in 19 years. Current projects include the production of a one-hour documentary and the organization's first-ever recording project.

A firm believer in community partnerships and the arts as an economic driver, Saunders was a major part of the coalition responsible for the passage of Rhode Island's $35-million Cultural Facilities Bond in November. The passage of this unprecedented program awarded to the Chorus of Westerly $1,054,200 for renovation work on their organization home, the George Kent Performance Hall. Locally, Saunders also co-founded the Westerly Regional Arts Partnership, a new arts collaborative created to promote and support the Westerly region's creative sector.

A graduate of Boston University and Wheaton College, Saunders is on the Board of Directors of the Lorelei Ensemble. This past January, Saunders was appointed a fellow in the inaugural cohort of the new EmcArts national program, Arts Leaders as Cultural Innovators.