Rob Ryder

Rob Ryder received his B.A. degree in Music Theory and Composition from Stanford University where he studied with Leland Smith and John Chowning. His graduate studies in Music were at Colorado College where he studied with Don Jenkins.  He taught vocal music in the Colorado Springs public schools for six years.  Rob’s compositions and arrangements have been performed by numerous Community, University, Military, Church, and School groups throughout the country.  He is a past winner of the Colorado Music Educators Association award for composition, and has been a featured composer for the Colorado All-State Choir, and the Colorado Vocal Arts Ensemble. Rob has been a member of Abendmusik since the group’s inception in 1974.  He has served as co-director of Abendmusik since 2001. Rob makes his home in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In addition to his musical pursuits, Rob served for 33 years with Centura Health where he held various positions including Chief Administrative Officer of Penrose Community Hospital in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Corporate Vice President of Learning and Leadership Development for Centura Health, and CEO of St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center in Pueblo, Colorado.  Rob retired from his healthcare career in 2013.   

Conductor Bios

Abendmusik

Richard Nutting

Mr. Nutting was born and  raised in the San Francisco Bay area, completed an undergraduate degree in vocal performance from San Francisco State University, and continued his education with post-graduate work in vocal performance and education. In the fall of 1971, he began teaching vocal music at Russell Junior High School in Colorado Springs.  He completed a graduate degree in Education from the University of Colorado in 1979, and did post-graduate work in guidance and counseling and school assessment. During his tenure as music teacher at Russell, he helped organize the Junior High Honor Choir for School District #11. He also published a general music curriculum, introduced the guitar program in District #11, and began the first Junior High Jazz/Show Choir in Colorado Springs, Antares. His choirs performed throughout the state of Colorado, at the C.M.E.A. convention, and Antares performed at the 1982 World’s Fair in Knoxville, TN. He retired from the classroom in 2003. Mr. Nutting is a member of the Colorado Music Adjudicators Association, judging choral festivals throughout the state and has served as a guest clinician for choral programs in Colorado and New Mexico. He is also a member of the American Choral Directors Association and the National Association for Music Education. He is one of the charter members of Abendmusik.