Saxophonist Ryan Van Scoyk hails from Aurora, Colorado, and he currently teaches Instrumental Music at Golden View Classical Academy. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Saxophone Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Colorado-Boulder as well as Master of Music Degree from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and graduated summa cum laude from Colorado State University with Bachelor’s Degrees in Music Performance and Education. Equally comfortable in classical, jazz, popular, and sacred settings, Ryan has shared the stage with Fareed Haque, Matt Wilson, Greg Gisbert, The Lettermen, and many others.
Having a particular passion for chamber music, Ryan performs regularly with the the Black Diamond Quartet (Robert Ward, alto, Christopher Ruiz, tenor, and Sean Edwards, Tenor), the Promethean Quartet (Alexander Magg, soprano, Brandon Jinwoo Choi, alto, and Om Srivastava, tenor) and the Ubuntu Duo (with Staci Toma, marimba). The Promethean Quartet’s debut album, Through Adam’s Fall, was released in October 2013, and features Ryan’s original arrangement for saxophone quartet of Percy Grainger’s iconic band work Lincolnshire Posy. Ryan’s chamber ensembles have received numerous honors, including selection as one of the top four wind ensembles in the finals of the Alice Coleman International Chamber Music Competition (Promethean Quartet, 2013), honorable mention in the Ohio Music Teachers’ National Association Competition (Promethean Quartet, 2013), and alternate in the Southern California International Competition (Ubuntu Duo, 2014). The Promethean Quartet completed a five-state tour in 2013, including several performances and masterclasses at public schools and universities.
Ryan is also an active performer in jazz, popular, and sacred music. He has performed with the top jazz ensembles at CU, CSU, and CCM, including performances in Heidelberg, Germany (2009), and at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola at the Lincoln Center in New York City (2014). From 2009-2012 he served as the Director of Contemporary Music at First United Methodist Church in Fort Collins, Colorado, where he brought jazz, Latin, and gospel influences to an alternative worship service. Ryan also spent several years emulating the likes of James Brown, Tower of Power, and Earth Wind and Fire as the baritone saxophonist for the 11-piece funk outfit, Archie Funker. Ryan's upcoming album highlighting his versatility as a saxophonist, Somewhere Between, is scheduled to release in late 2015.
Matched with his passion for performing is Ryan’s zeal for education. Ryan is a prolific private instructor, and his students have been selected to ensembles such as the Colorado All-State Band, Cincinnati Junior Youth Wind Ensemble, Northern Kentucky Honor Band, and lead alto in the Colorado All-State Jazz Band. Ryan also served as the head male counselor at the Rocky Mountain Summer Music Camp in Fort Collins, where he taught several jazz improvisation classes and helped develop the inaugural Advanced High School Institute, an intensive study in chamber music for the most gifted students. In addition, he is the woodwind specialist for several high schools, and developed a series of classes and concerts to introduce students with developmental disabilities to instrumental music and the saxophone.
Ryan stays busy in all aspects of the music world. He is the business manager and staff arranger for the Promethean Quartet, and his arrangements and transcriptions are available for purchase. He is also a skilled recording engineer specializing in live classical music, and regularly records recitals, audition tapes, and albums. Visit the Recording Services page for more information on Ryan's recording business, Van Scoyk Studios.
Ryan currently lives in Highlands Ranch, Colorado with his wife Camrenne and daughter Kathryn.
For a full resume or any other information, please feel free to contact Ryan.