Bachelor of Music Education (guitar), CMU
Master of Music Performance (guitar), UMKC
10 years experience teaching and performing
Certified to teach in public schools

Currently adjunct professor of guitar and bass at Central Methodist University

After high school, Ryan went on to attain a Bachelor of Music Education degree with an emphasis in guitar from Central Methodist University. After finishing this degree, Ryan went directly to graduate school at the University of Missouri-Kansas City to earn his Master of Music Performance degree in classical guitar with Douglas Niedt.

Ryan has studied with many world class musicians during his career. As a youngster he honed his chops by taking lessons from Greg Ancell, a local family friend. During college he began the development of his classical guitar chops with Columbia’s own Thom Howard. In his tenure as a graduate student he honed his chops with the great Douglas Niedt. Ryan has also spent time in master classes and studying with classical guitar greats like Christopher Parkening, the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, the Assad brothers, Bill Kanengiser, and others. He has also spent time with jazz greats like Bobby Watson, Paul McKee, Fred Hamilton, Joe Lee, Bram Wijnands, and Rod Fleeman.

Ryan has been playing music professionally for nearly ten years. Some of his performance highlights include playing in front of thousands on praise and worship teams, opening for big names like Wayne Kerr, being selected for and performing with Missouri Music Educator Association’s All-Collegiate Jazz Ensemble, sharing the stage with jazz greats like Bobby Watson and Bram Wijnands, and participating as the original guitarist and founding member of Columbia’s own FLOTUS.