Today we’d like to introduce you to Christian Ryan.
Hi Christian, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I started playing the saxophone in middle school as we had to take an arts elective starting in the 6th grade at Tuskawilla Middle school. I didn’t enjoy singing, and did not want to act, so music was the only choice for me! I thought the saxophone could be cool, and that was the only factor in my decision. I was the first in class to have an instrument and the teacher helped me set it up in front of whole class to demonstrate. I couldn’t even make a sound! Off to a great start…
I have no musicians in my family whatsoever, so as I got more into playing, I was a bit of a black sheep as far development. I was fortunate to have some great teachers along the way, but my influences were often self discovery and eventually those who I’d perform with. The music bug officially bit me towards the end of high school and I was off to the races after that. I practiced several hours a day during my senior year at Lake Howell High school, and began to truly hone my craft. I then went on to study at Valencia College while simultaneously gaining invaluable experience on stage playing in as many bands as I could.
Over time, I gained the reputation for being everywhere in the Orlando & Tampa Bay scenes. One night I could be playing a rock show, the next reggae, then hip hop, then a jazz club, or a jam band festival, theme park, etc. l learned from a plethora of stellar musicians by way of osmosis that crafted my own abilities. After a few years of doing that, I took a semester studying at Berklee College of Music in Boston to follow a high school dream in 2013. I later decided that I preferred to be the working musician that I was, and come back home.
I’ve been in Central Florida ever since, now residing in Polk county with my family. Music has taken me around the country and world, and I’m grateful to continue to work in this industry.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Certainly pursuing an artistic career path isn’t easy. My whole working life has been building connections to keep my calendar full. If my inbox or voicemails are empty, I have no job. The industry is constantly evolving, and if you aren’t adapting and being a versatile as possible, you can get left behind. The biggest example of that was during the covid pandemic in 2020.
For the first time in my life I was completely out of work and had no control over it. I was worried that I would potentially have to start a new career as many did. I remember initially joking that we were just going to have a couple weeks off in March during one of the last gigs I had before then. That turned into no work for months and roughly a year until things started to get back on track. Before that had transpired, I was working with a lot of original groups, theme parks, and music festivals. Essentially everything I had going ceased to exist, and many jobs were never quite the same. I had to regroup and find new opportunities where the demand for live entertainment was still happening.
Since then, I’ve transitioned more into private events, tribute acts, weddings, etc. I no longer have to work quite as often as I once did as these types of jobs or more secure and lucrative. This gives me more time now to raise my daughter during the day, and perform in the evening.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a professional saxophonist and woodwinds player. I specialize in live performance, but have done numerous recordings, as well as horn arrangements for various bands. I also have a small studio of students that I teach privately in my home.
I would say I’m most known for my work ethic, and professionalism. I have been able to work with hundreds of groups and artists. Musically, I take pride in playing what the music calls for. Whether that’s a soaring solo, or adding a small touch to bring the music to life, I always enjoy that process. As a teacher, I love making the lightbulb moments happen, and giving students the knowledge I wish I had when I was in their shoes.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
As an improviser, I’m constantly taking risks. It’s vital to have your own sound and style and as a musician and entertainer. Risks in general are how you grow the most.
One of the biggest risks I took in my younger years was becoming more of a freelance artist. When I was 20 years old I had mostly worked with one group playing all around. While I developed some great friendships, I wasn’t happy with where things were going with the band. I knew in order to get to where I wanted to go, I needed to expand my horizons. I was worried to leave what was comfortable, or if I was even good enough but it turned into one of the best decisions I ever made. I learned to be confident in myself and my abilities!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.christianryanmusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christianryanmusic
Image Credits
Arielle D’Ornellas
Dovetail Photos
Gabriel Lugo
Mitch Levine
