Staff

Ryan is a 2001 graduate of Ball State University. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Choral Music Education. He also completed a Masters Degree in Educational Administration from Southern Utah University in 2017.

Ryan is a proud member of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), the Nevada Music Educators Association (NMEA) and the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). He has served as the Chair of the CCSD Honor Choir since 2015, and currently serves on the Nevada All-State Choir Committee. Duff also served as the 2020 Western Region ACDA Honor Choir Chairman. Currently, Ryan serves as the All-Conference Sing Coordinator for the 2022 Western Region ACDA Conference, and as a member of the Western Region’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Task Force. He has served as President of the Nevada ACDA chapter, and currently serves as the Nevada ACDA Men’s Choir Repertoire & Resources Chairman.

Before his career as a teacher, Ryan worked as a Professional Singer and Entertainer. Outside of Las Vegas, he worked for Holland America Cruise Lines, Busch Gardens Theme Park Entertainment, Cedar Point Amusement Park Entertainment, and Harvey’s Lake Tahoe. He has worked as Musical Director for several Professional Regional Musical Theatre Productions including "The Wiz," "Fame: The Musical," "Peter Pan," "Fiddler on the Roof," and "The Taffetas." His Las Vegas performing career as a singer and musician has included "Tony & Tina’s Wedding" at the Rio Hotel & Casino, "The Can-Can Cabaret" at the Paris Hotel & Casino, and performing as a Singing Gondolier at the Venetian Hotel & Casino.

A pianist, music director/arranger, and vocal coach. In Las Vegas, he has periodically played keyboard for Mamma Mia!, The Lion King, The Phat Pack, and Jersey Boys. He has performed in various venues including at the Palms, Caesar’s Palace, and the Hard Rock Hotel.

In addition, he has played at numerous cabarets and nightclubs in New York City. He has also played for national tours including “Song and Dance” and “A Funny Thing… Forum.” Laurence served for 11 years on the faculty of the American Musical & Dramatic Academy in New York City. He holds a B.A. in philosophy from Harvard University, and also studied at the Manhattan School of Music and Tanglewood.