Chorus keys in new teacher

by Meghan Grainer, Mikaela Smith and Abbey Stoneman

The newest member of the Blue Devil family is chorus teacher Steven Ryan.

Mr. Ryan previously worked for four years as Minister of Music at Carlisle Avenue Baptist Church. He completed his student teaching at John Rolfe Middle School and Henry D. Ward. His position at Varina allows him to continue his dedication to singing and music.

“Singing is a natural function of the human body,” Mr. Ryan said. “Just talking, you know? It is a form of communication.”

Mr. Ryan teaches show choir, women’s choir and honors choir. In the March District Festival at Deep Run High School, the choir earned a 2 for “Shenandoah” and a 3 for “Elijah Rock” on a scale of 1 to 5.

“I hold my honors chorus to a higher standard because it is a weighted credit,” Mr. Ryan said.

Mr. Ryan said the choir has been inconsistent in district competitions, but his goal is for them to earn a superior rating, the number one spot at the festival.

Abbie Carroll, a sophomore in the honors choir, has always loved to sing. She said that Mr. Ryan pushes the honors students to reach their full potential, never giving them a break.

“He pushes us to where we should be as an honors choir,” Abbie said. 

Assistant Principal Dawn Rogers said that Mr. Ryan has an ear for detail as he listens to his students practice the music he has selected.

“Mr. Ryan is energetic and laid back,” Mrs. Rogers said.

Freshmen Tara Tate is in the women’s choir. For her, Mr. Ryan is not too strict and not too nice in the classroom. He has found a balance.

She said the best thing about being in his class is that he is a person she can talk to. Tara also likes Mr. Ryan’s sense of humor, which he uses to help singers understand the material.

“He makes learning fun; he does not just give us boring assignments like some other teachers do,” Tara said.

Mr. Ryan comes from a musically talented family.

His mother is a singer, his father is a drummer and his brother is the first chair in All District Middle School Band.

“Music’s always been a part of my life. I can’t pinpoint it exactly, but I can say that I have a very big gift in music, and I try to use it as much as I can,” Mr. Ryan said.