Ryan Ramey

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 currently is the Principal Horn of both the CSU Northridge Orchestra and Wind Ensemble where he is a music performance major. He also performs with the Master's College Wind Ensemble. After obtaining his B.M. Ryan hopes to work on his Masters Degree in Horn Performance and is looking at USC, UCLA, The Colburn School of Music, and San Francisco Conservatory. Ryan's current horn teachers are Bill Lane, David Hoover and 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.

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 Stephan Dohr, Philip Myers, Hans Dullaert 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, with an Atkinson Ambronze Bell, and uses a Tom Greer hand support. Ryan has always used a custom heavy Schilke mouthpiece, but recently has switched to a silver-plated Laskey 80G. His performance mutes are a Copper Jo-Ral; and a Red Mahogany Ion Balu (who creates the finest mutes in the world). Ryan's two french horn cases are an Altieri horn bag and a Pro-Tec horn 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); John Mason (Sub L.A. Philharmonic/L.A. area freelancer); David Hoover (Horn Professor, CSUN)

Former Instructors: Dr. James Winter (Retired Principal Horn Fresno Philharmonic/Professor Fresno State); David Krehbiel (Retired Principal Horn, San Francisco Symphony); 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: Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra; Carson-Dominquez Symphony; Modesto Symphony Orchestra; The Peninsula Symphony; The San Fernando Valley Symphony; The Valley Symphony; Tulare County Symphony; Hanford Symphony, CSU Northridge Orchestra, Bakersfield Youth Symphony Orchestra; Bakersfield and Fresno City College Chamber Orchestras

Other Ensemble Experience: CBDNA Western/Northwestern Intercollegiate Honor Band; 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: R. Schumann's Adagio and Allegro, J. Brahms' Trio in Eb Major, Op.40 (Mvmnt. III-IV), C. Reinecke's Trio Op. 274 (complete), E. Ewazen's Horn Concerto (complete), E. Ewazen's Ballade, Pastorale and Dance (complete), G. Vinter's Hunter's Moon, N. von Krufft Sonata (Mvmnt. II), R. Strauss' Concerto No.1 in Eb Major (complete), R. Strauss' Concerto No. 2 in Eb Major (Mvmnt. I), Bozza's En Foret and Sur Les Cimes, Rossini's Prelude, Theme and Variations, F. Strauss' Nocturno, and Mercadante's Concerto.

Click here for a printable resume