Artistic Director:
Ryan Occeña.
Ryan Occeña is the Artistic Director of both the Metropolitan Chorale and the UNI Children’s Choir, and serves as the secondary chorus instructor for the Cedar Valley Catholic Schools in Waterloo, IA. In his career as a music educator and choral conductor, he has taught and directed students in every age group from preK through graduate school at public, private, and parochial programs in Kansas, New York, Pennsylvania, and Iowa.
Occeña maintains an active schedule as a baritone as well as a conductor. He held community and professional chorister positions in Kansas City and New York City, and currently sings with Bel Canto Cedar Valley. Occeña is a frequent music director for musical theatre productions, including an acclaimed Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
A native of Columbia, Missouri, Occeña holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City; a post-baccalaureate diploma in choral conducting from the Zoltán Kodály Pedagogical Institute in Kecskemét, Hungary; and a Master of Music degree in choral conducting from Messiah University.
When not performing and teaching, Occeña and his wife, Hannah, enjoy spending time with their four children, training for endurance races, and traveling to visit family and friends.
Accompanist Nathaniel Parrish
A native of Cedar Falls, Nathaniel Parrish has considerable accompanying experience as a pianist and organist. In 2004, Nathaniel received his Bachelor of Arts in Organ Performance from the University of Northern Iowa, where he accompanied vocalists and instrumentalists alike, as well as the UNI Singers. Additionally, Nathaniel has worked in music ministry, serving Noroton Presbyterian Church (Darien, CT) and Cedar Heights Community Presbyterian Church (Cedar Falls, IA). Currently, Nathaniel works at Nazareth Lutheran Church (Cedar Falls, IA) as the Director of Music and he also teaches private piano lessons. Nathaniel resides in Waterloo with his spouse, Ali, and three stepdaughters: Caitlin, Ireland, and Felicity.