Ryan began playing the french horn at the age of ten after switching from drums in the fourth grade. Ryan always loved the sound of the horn and was a self-taught musician for many years. Around the age of 16 he started taking music seriously and began to progress quickly in his horn playing. Ryan has participated in many honor bands and orchestras and has played live on television. He has also performed with many professional orchestras.
Ryan was the Principal Horn of both the CSU Northridge Orchestra and Wind Ensemble prio to taking this year off school. After obtaining his B.M. Ryan hopes to work on his Masters Degree in Horn Performance and is looking at The Colburn School of Music, USC, Colorado State University and San Francisco Conservatory. Ryan's current horn teachers are Bill Lane, Joe Meyer and occasionally John Mason. Ryan also performs as an import/utility horn with the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra along with many other Orchestras from the L.A. area to the Central Valley. This past year Ryan played with: The Peninsula Symphony, San Fernando Valley Symphony, The New Valley Symphony, Hanford Symphony and The Tulare County Symphony.
Ryan enjoys playing everything from Baroque to film music. His favorite composers are Mahler, Howard Hanson, Strauss, Tchaikovsky and Beethoven. Ryan's favorite symphony is Mahler's Third and the Orchestra he holds in the highest regard is the Berlin Philharmonic. Ryan's favorite horn players in the world are Stefan Dohr, Philip Myers and Hermann Baumann. Ryan is very interested in learning horn repair. He has learned from Harry Siverly at The Horn Shop and hopes to learn from John Mason in the future. Ryan's goal is to use the skills that he learns from them, to one day open a store catering to customization of brass instruments, and possibly producing his own double or even triple french horn.
Ryan performs on a 1968 L-series Conn 8D, he has always used a custom heavy Schilke mouthpiece, but recently has switched to a silver-plated Laskey 80G with a John Mason Rim. His performance mutes are all made by Ion Balu they are: A Red Mahogany straight mute, a Red Mahogany practice mute and Stop Mute 2.0 (http://www.ionbalu.com/Balu_horn_mutes.html). Ryan's French Horn case is royal blue Altieri case. Ryan hopes to save enough money to purchase a descant or triple horn.
Ryan's wife, Maria, is a professional flute player and they have three young children who are quickly following in their parents musical footsteps. More information can be found at www.rameymusic.com.
Overview:
Current Instructors: Bill Lane (Principal Horn, Los Angeles Philharmonic); Joe Meyer (Hollywood Pops, Long Beach Symphony, Santa Monica Symphony); John Mason (Sub L.A. Philharmonic/L.A. area freelancer)
Masterclass/Private Lessons: Bruce Hudson (4th Horn LA Phil), Dr. James Winter (Retired Principal Horn Fresno Philharmonic/Professor Fresno State); David Krehbiel (Retired Principal Horn, San Francisco Symphony) and Pete Nowlen (Horn Professor, Sac State)
Former Instructors: David Hoover (Horn Professor, CSUN), Jerry Folsom (Former Co-Principal Horn, Los Angeles Philharmonic); Tom Hiebert (Horn Professor, CSUF); Jennie Blomster (Horn Professor, UOP) and Kristin Morrison (Yanni's touring Orchestra)
Orchestral Experience: The Peninsula Symphony; San Fernando Valley Symphony; The New Valley Symphony; Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra; Carson-Dominquez Symphony; Modesto Symphony Orchestra; Tulare County Symphony; Hanford Symphony; Merced Symphony; CSU Northridge Orchestra, L.A. Valley Symphony; Ventura College Symphony; Bakersfield Youth Symphony Orchestra; Bakersfield and Fresno City College Chamber Orchestras
Other Ensemble Experience: CBDNA Western/Northwestern Intercollegiate Honor Band (Co-Principal); M.A.C.C. Honor Band (Principal); CSUN Wind Ensemble (Principal); CSUF's Clendenin Brass Quintet; CSUF Wind Ensemble; CSUB Wind Ensemble; CSUF Horn Ensemble; Bakersfield College Wind Ensemble; Fresno Community Concert Band; and Various other ensembles.
Concerto Performances: R. Gliere's Concerto in Bb Major (2005), R. Schumann's Konzertstuck (2002, 2005), C.M. von Weber's Concertino (1998, 2001), A. Vivaldi's Double Horn Concerto (1999) and W.A. Mozart Concerto ..1 (1998).
Recital Performances: A. Dvorak's Serenade in Dminor, J. Brahms "Horn" Trio in Eb Major Op. 40 (Mvmnt III & IV), Bozza's En Foret and Sur Les Cimes, A. Dvorak's Serenade (complete), C Reinecke's Trio Op. 274 (complete), E. Ewazen's Horn Concerto (complete), E. Ewazen's Ballade, Pastorale and Dance (complete), R. Gliere's Intermezzo, N. von Krufft Sonata (Mvmnt. II), G. Mercadante's Concerto, W.A. Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante, G. Rossini's Prelude, Theme and Variations, R. Schumann's Adagio and Allegro, F. Strauss' Nocturno, R. Strauss' Concerto No.1 in Eb Major (complete), R. Strauss' Concerto No. 2 in Eb Major (Mvmnt. I), Rossini's Prelude, Theme and Variations, G. Vinter's Hunter's Moon
