Ryan is a 2001 graduate of Ball State University. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Choral Music Education. He also completed a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Southern Utah University in 2017. Ryan is a proud member of American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). He has served as the Chair of the CCSD (Clark County School District) Honor Choir since 2015, and currently serves as the Nevada ACDA All-State Choir Chair. Duff has also served as the 2020 Western Region ACDA Honor Choir Chairman. He has served as President of the Nevada ACDA chapter, and currently serves as the Nevada ACDA Men’s Choir Repertoire & Resources Chairman. He was awarded a CCSD Heart of Education Award in 2017, recognizing Excellence in Teaching.
This year, Ryan is in his 17th year as a High School Choir Teacher in the Clark County School District; Duff is in his 14th year as the Choir Director at Basic Academy in Henderson, where he directs six choirs, and serves as the Department Chair for the Performing Arts. Before his career as a teacher, Ryan worked as a Professional Singer and Entertainer. Outside of Las Vegas, he worked as a Production Singer for Holland America Cruise Lines, Busch Gardens Theme Park Entertainment, Cedar Point Amusement Park Entertainment, and Harvey’s Lake Tahoe; he has also worked as Musical Director for several Professional Regional Musical Theatre Productions. 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 as a Singing Gondolier at the Venetian Hotel & Casino.
Ryan is proud to serve as the Artistic Director for the Las Vegas Men’s Chorus. This season, he begins his 12th year at the podium, conducting and artistically leading the organization. He resides in Las Vegas with his husband and Las Vegas Men’s Chorus Choreographer, Justin McClendon.
From Our Artistic Director
Hello and welcome to our 2024 Winter Production entitled “Be of Good Cheer.” With this concert, we begin our 32nd Season of bringing high-quality choral singing, exciting production value, and our unique entertainment to the Las Vegas community. Tonight, we will present songs that represent the best of the holidays, and hopefully inspire warm thoughts of your loved ones and fond memories of home. Our ensemble members, our staff, and our Board of Directors have worked tirelessly to put this show together and we cannot wait to share! I continue to stand in awe of the cooperative spirit of our leadership team; this show represents a colossal collaborative effort - our village is mighty!
I feel that what our organization brings to the stage is needed now, more than ever. In a world that seeks to constantly divide us, I encourage you to unplug from all of that strife, and allow us to inspire you with the sounds of your favorite holiday songs and timeless winter classics! As always, you can expect a few surprises, and of course, exciting numbers from not only our full company of singers, but also our Featured Vocal Ensemble and Dance Line.
We are once again honored to be in our home, the beautiful Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall on the campus of UNLV, one of the finest concert halls in the state! My sincere hope is that our show kicks off your best winter holiday season yet; we are so thrilled to be celebrating all of the joy and wonder of the holidays with you tonight - enjoy the show!
Ryan Duff Artistic Director
Jonathan Tuala Collaborative Pianist
Jonathan is a pianist, singer, actor, and educator. He began piano lessons at age five, competed in regional competitions in grade school, and started playing for church services in middle school. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Vocal Performance from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University in Chicago, IL.
In the Las Vegas Valley, he has been musical director and keyboardist for various churches, schools, and many local musical theatre productions with companies such as Signature Productions and Super Summer Theatre. Jonathan sang with the Las Vegas Men’s Chorus for three seasons as well as serving as Member-at-Large on the Board of Directors.
Jonathan serves as Assistant Program Manager at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts focusing on providing theatre opportunities for students.
From Our President
“Welcome one and all to the most wonderful time of the year!”
You’ll hear that iconic phrase in just a few minutes as the curtain opens. Welcome! LVMC’s Holiday Concert has become a tradition for thousands of folks across the Valley and beyond. We’re honored to bring you loving joy and merriment to warm your holiday season.
LVMC is 32 years young this year, yet we’re constantly finding new ways to expand our impact through our Mission: We create safe spaces for our community and allies through musical experiences which inspire all of us to be stronger together.
This year, we’re on track to give 13,000 community service hours to the Las Vegas Valley. We’ll perform for 5,000+ patrons across our Mainstage Concerts and expanded free Community Concert Series. We inaugurated the Ryan L. Duff Music Library, a bequest enabling Ryan Duff to arrange and create new works for LVMC to premier here with you prior to publishing for the world. We represented Las Vegas and Nevada at GALA Festival in Minneapolis where a sobbing patron shared LVMC inspired them to return to therapy.
When we say this is lifesaving work, we mean it! None of this would be possible without you. If the music moves you today, consider giving a tax deductible donation. Ticket sales account for less than half of our annual budget so every gift enables us to reach more folks in need.
We are thrilled to kick off Season 32 with you, which is shaping up to be our largest season yet. Thank you for being part of our LVMC family!
Ryan Miller President & Producer
About the Las Vegas Men’s Chorus….
Our Mission: The Las Vegas Men’s Chorus creates safe spaces for our community and allies through musical experiences which inspire all of us to be stronger together.
Community | Harmony | Opportunity | Respect | Unity | Service
The Las Vegas Men’s Chorus (LVMC) was founded in 1993 by a small group of men who simply wanted to sing. Over the next 30 years, the LVMC found itself providing much more than music: a place to create and foster community and safe spaces through live performances. Social justice, inclusion, diversity, and equity are now at the forefront of LVMC’s programming. From humble beginnings of 10 members and 30 patrons, we now boast 100+ active members and 2,000+ patrons in the audience annually at three fully-produced Mainstage Concerts with our free Community Concert Series benefitting thousands more. Patrons describe attending an LVMC concert as “experiencing joy”.
Although not specifically a “gay” chorus, ~85% of members identify as LGBTQIA2+. ~40%+ of members have or are currently experiencing homelessness, addiction, mental and physical health issues, abuse, or incarceration. ~40% of members identify as BIPOC with age diversity ranging from 18 to 76. Membership has grown +300% since 2021 from 32 to 100+ members with consistent double-digit growth each concert cycle.
We extend safe spaces to the Las Vegas Valley with members giving 13,000+ community service hours annually. We ensure we “use our voices for good” through Community Outreach events including World AIDS Day, Las Vegas Aviators Pride Night, Latin Grammy Awards “Los Producers” benefitting the Michael J. Fox Foundation, Las Vegas Pride, Ribbon of Life benefitting Golden Rainbow HIV/AIDS fund, Aid for AIDS of Nevada, Sin Sity Sisters, Las Vegas Prime Timers, Las Vegas Clark County Library District benefits, Christ Church Episcopal Community Concerts, Arthur Murray Las Vegas Showcases, Harry Reid International Airport Showcases, and Gateway Arts Foundation. Each year in partnership with the Clark County School District, we co-produce “Sing Out: A Tenor/ Bass Choral Festival” intended to bolster confidence and lifelong love of singing in our community’s young people. As a GALA (Gay and Lesbian Choruses of America) Chorus, we represent Las Vegas and Nevada at GALA Festival alongside 15,000+ singers in five days of singing, education, connecting, and creating at the largest LGBTQ choral event in the world.
Our in-person impact is typically conducted in Southern Nevada, specifically the Las Vegas Valley, although performance and community event requests are regularly submitted from the broader Southwestern U.S.. Our patrons are increasingly diverse ranging across income, age, sexual orientation, race, religion, and education. Our impact is amplified across the globe through digital channels including YouTube where viewers watched our inspiring content ~32,000 times across 15+ countries this past year alone. The LVMC is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
Auditions for our Spring Concert Cycle will be held on Saturday, January 4, 2025, with rehearsals beginning on Sunday, January 5, 2025. Please follow us on all of our social media, reach out to a current member, or visit the website for more information. We would LOVE to have you add your talents to our ensemble.
On behalf of our Artistic Staff, Board of Directors, and our entire ensemble, we want to thank you for spending your Sunday evening with us and we sincerely hope that you enjoy tonight’s concert, a cheerful holiday celebration that is certain to warm your heart! We are so excited to have you with us today in our beautiful home, UNLV’s Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall, as we continue our musical excellence and commence our 32nd Season! Your support here today means everything to us all; we hope that you enjoy the concert. Have a wonderful and restful holiday, we will see you back here for our Spring Concert “The Ladies We Love” on Sunday, March 23, 2025!
SAVE THE DATES:
VOCAL AUDITIONS FOR SPRING 2025:
Saturday, January 4, 2025 @ 1:00 pm
Arthur Murray Las Vegas West
4440 S. Durango Drive • Las Vegas, NV 89147
FIRST REHEARSAL FOR SPRING 2025:
Saturday, January 5, 2025 @ 1:00 pm
Arthur Murray Las Vegas West
4440 S. Durango Drive • Las Vegas, NV 89147
“THE LADIES WE LOVE” SPRING CONCERT:
Sunday, March 23, 2025 @ 4:00 pm
UNLV’s Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall
UNLV Performing Arts Center Staff
Arthur Murray Las Vegas - Dance Rehearsal Space
Justin McClendon - Choreographer, Arthur Murray Las Vegas
Ryan Miller - Producer
Jonathan Tuala - Collaborative Pianist
Tim Thomas - Bass
Jeremy Meronuck - Percussion
Eric Fleischer - Auxiliary Keyboards
Catherine Pratt - Lighting Design
Erick Canfield - Head of Wardrobe & Props Master
Bud Weismiller - Floral Arrangements
Lamar Advertising - Billboards
Kristopher Minnich - Photographer
David Williamson - Videographer
PDQ Printing Las Vegas - Program Book Design
QVegas & Gipsy - Special Events Venue LVMC Volunteers
Bravo to Our Sponsors
SINGALONG L YRICS
SILENT NIGHT
Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child
Holy Infant, so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace.
THE CHRISTMAS SONG
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose
Yuletide carols being sung by a choir and folks dressed up like Eskimos
Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe help to make the season bright
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow will find it hard to sleep tonight
They know that Santa’s on his way He’s loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh And every mother’s child is gonna spy
To see if reindeer really know how to fly
And so I’m offering this simple phrase to kids from one to ninety-two Although it’s been said many times, many ways, Merry Christmas to you.
BE OF GOOD CHEER - ACT I
BE OF GOOD CHEER
IT’S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!
ALL THAT HOLIDAY STUFF!
HANUKKAH, SEASON OF JOY!
EIGHT LIGHTS FOR HANUKKAH
Words & Music by Michelle Snyder & Gregory Lafollette
Arranged by David Maddux
Words & Music by Andy Beck
Soloist: Ben Hensley
Featuring: LVMC Dance Line, Choreography by Justin McClendon
HANUKKAH, SEASON OF JOY
Words & Music by Mark Weston
Words & Music by Andy Beck
THE HOLIDAYS ARE FOR DANCING!
THE CHRISTMAS WALTZ
DANCE OF THE SUGAR PLUM FAIRY
CHRISTMASTIME
SILENT NIGHT (SINGALONG)
BELL CAROL
DEEP PEACE
JOY! JOY! JOY TO THE WORLD!
Words & Music by Sammy Cahn & Jule Styne
Arranged by: Mark Hayes
Featuring: LVMC Featured Vocal Ensemble
Words & Music by Pyotr Tchaikovsky
Recorded by Lindsey Sterling
Featuring: LVMC Dance Line, Choreography by Justin McClendon
JOY, PEACE AND GOODWILL TO ALL
Words & Music by Michael W. Smith & Joanna Carlson
Arranged by Lloyd Larson
Featuring: LVMC Featured Vocal Ensemble
Words & Music by Franz Gruber & Joseph Mohr
Words & Music by Peter J. Wilhousky
Arranged with Original Words by Heather Sorenson
Featuring: Ryan Miller & Jonathan Tuala, Four-Hand Piano
Traditional Gaelic Blessing
Music by Victor C. Johnson
Words & Music by Chad Weirick
Choreography by Justin McClendon
FAVORITE ONE
BE OF GOOD CHEER - ACT II
SANTA AND HIS FRIENDS
Music by Cy Coleman
Original Lyrics by Betty Comden & Adolph Green
Featuring: LVMC Dance Line, Choreography by Justin McClendon
THE MAN WITH THE BAG
RUDOLPH, THE RED-NOSED REINDEER
Words & Music by Harold Stanley, Irving Taylor, & Dudley Brooks
Arranged by Steve Milloy
Words & Music by Johnny Marks
Arranged by Garry Williams & Alvin Trotman
ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS
ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU
FRUITCAKE
I WANT A HIPPOPOTAMUS FOR CHRISTMAS
Words & Music by Mariah Carey & Walter Afanasieff
Arranged by David Maddux
Soloists: Josh DoCanto & Masa Yamakawa
Words & Music by Philip Hagemann & Penny Leka
Featuring: LVMC Featured Vocal Ensemble
Words & Music by John Rox
Performed by Gayla Peevey
Featuring: LVMC Dance Line, Choreography by Justin McClendon
