AS THE William S. Perper Director of Music and Fine Arts Ministries, Dr. Ryan Jackson directs three adult choirs, oversees the maintenance of two pipe organs and 10 pianos, and selects and prepares music for more than 100 services and seven concerts each season. Every week, Ryan prepares the musical content for the church bulletin, including the texts, responses and worship notes.

The Fifth Avenue concert series has expanded to offer multiple choir and organ performances, including sold-out evenings during Advent and Lent that attract congregation members and music lovers from around the world. A recent innovation is the Lunch + Listen series in Kirkland Chapel.

Before rehearsing a piece, Ryan color-codes the score to learn each part individually, analyzing each word’s consonant and vowel sounds so that the choir blends into one voice—the vocal equivalent of training the Rockettes. To bring all of this beautiful music to life, Ryan creates a schedule of rehearsals, services and concerts, and works with Associate Organist Patrick Kreeger on the interpretation of every piece. Oh yes, and amid the day-to-day administrative tasks of his job, Ryan finds time to practice the organ two or three hours a day!