Conservatory of Music

EXCELLENCE...
From Bach to Broadway

Percussion

Josh Ryan

Associate Professor of Music
Chair of the Woodwind / Brass / Percussion Department

M.M., Peabody Conservatory of Music

B.M., Music, Lawrence University

B.A., Government, Lawrence University

Josh Ryan teaches percussion, percussion methods, and directs the percussion ensemble. A versatile performer and clinician, Josh is an active musician in many genres. He has been the principal timpanist of the Madison Symphony Orchestra and has also performed with the Maryland Symphony, Peabody Symphony Orchestra, and the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra. Josh has also taught at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater where he founded the Summer Percussion Camp.

Josh has studied African music in Ghana, West Africa with the Agbeli family and is also a student of Valerie Naranjo. He has traveled to Cuba to study with Regino Jimenez and Daniel Alfonso. he is also a long-time student of Afro-Cuban percussionist Michael Spiro and has recently co-authored a book with him. A frequent clinician in non-Western styles of music, Mr. Ryan teaches workshops for music educators throughout the country and is a frequent clinician at music education conferences.

Josh is co-founder of the Africa -> West Percussion trio, a professional percussion ensemble in residence at Baldwin Wallace University. The trio recently released its second CD, Togo Road, and performed at the Percussive Arts Society INternational Convention. Active in new music featuring percussion instruments, he regularly performs as a solo marimbist/percussionist and chamber musician.

Mr. Ryan received his M.M. in percussion performance from the Peabody Conservatory of Music. His bachelor degrees are in music and government from Lawrence University, where he has also been a faculty member.

Email: jryan@bw.edu

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