Our Artistic Director for Met-Chorale Season 2023-24 is Ryan Occeña!

Ryan has been singing with the Met-Choral for about 3 years, including baritone solos on the Faure Requiem and Handel’s Messiah. Ryan is currently Choir Director at Central Middle School in Waterloo.  His experiences include pre-K through college choir teaching, singing and conducting in community and semi professional choirs. His musical education includes a MM Choral Conducting from Messiah College,  a Diploma from Zoltán Kodály Pedagogical Institute of Music and a BME Vocal Music Education- University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance. More recently, Ryan was Vocal Musical Director for the 2022 Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat production with the Cedar Falls Community Theatre, Waterloo Community Playhouse, University of Northern Iowa, Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, and Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra. 

Artistic Director 2015-2022   Amy Kotsonis .........Thank you!

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.