SHEFFIELD â Ryan LaBoy became a music teacher, in part, because he recognized the role that music teachers played in his life. LaBoy described himself as âa very artistic kid in a place where boys were expected to be very boyish,â adding that he did not play many sports while growing up in New Yorkâs Hudson Valley. âI sort of fell into a safe space when I joined choir as a young person, and I found a place where my gifts were useful and valued by the people I was around,â LaBoy said. âOn top of that, we got to sing.â