For organizers, region chairs & directors
Guest Conducting & Clinics
Ryan has worked with well over 100 festivals, honor orchestras and school residencies across eleven states, and presents regularly at TMEA, TODA and The Midwest Clinic. He brings the standards of a professional podium and the patience of a career educator to every student ensemble.
Engagements
What Ryan Offers
Honor, all-region & all-state orchestras
Full, string and chamber orchestras at the middle school, junior high and high school levels, including TMEA region orchestras and out-of-state all-state ensembles.
Professional, youth & community orchestras
Guest appearances with the Garland Symphony Orchestra and Rose City Chamber Orchestra, and with youth ensembles including the Santa Fe Youth Orchestra, Oklahoma City Youth Chamber Orchestra and Dallas Asian-American Youth Orchestra.
Orchestra clinics
On-campus clinics and residencies for UIL and festival preparation, with schools across North Texas and residencies in Anchorage and Las Vegas. Ten or more campuses a season.
Large group adjudication
ASTA National Orchestra Festival (San Francisco, 2026); TMEA Honor Orchestra judge since 2014; UIL concert and sight-reading since 2013; plus UMEA, Nevada ASTA, Anchorage and Marquette festivals and solo & ensemble across Texas.
Conducting masterclasses
Podium work for student, pre-service and early-career conductors, individually or as part of a summer program.
Summer camps, coaching & arranging
Co-conductor of UT-Arlington Summer Strings since 2018 and guest conductor for McKinney ISD and Frisco ISD camps; chamber coaching; arranging (published by J.W. Pepper and C. Alan).
Conference & in-service sessions
Clinic presentations
Available for conventions, district in-service days and university methods classes.
Newest session
Same Tune, Different Orchestra: Rehearsal Strategies in High School vs. Middle School
How the same musical goal calls for a different rehearsal approach with middle school and high school players: pacing, sequencing, feedback and expectations.
Presented
Tone & Tuning Development
A sequence for building ensemble tone and intonation, from individual sound production to tuning as a section and as a full orchestra.
Presented
HIPP in the Classroom: Historically Informed Performance Practice Made Easy
Practical ways to bring Baroque and Classical style — articulation, bow strokes, phrasing and ornamentation — into a school orchestra rehearsal without period instruments.
Presented
Interleaved Learning: Musical Cross-Training in the Ensemble Rehearsal
How mixing and alternating skills within a rehearsal, rather than drilling one at a time, builds deeper and longer-lasting musicianship.
Presented
Revving Up Your Recruiting and Retention
Strategies for growing an orchestra program and keeping students enrolled from the beginning years through graduation.
Presented
Selected engagements
Where Ryan has conducted
National
- The Midwest Clinic — invited performance (2018), clinic (2019), HS lab orchestra rehearsal clinician (2021)
- ASTA National Orchestra Festival, San Francisco — adjudicator (2026)
- Marquette University Orchestra Festival, Milwaukee (2017, 2018)
Professional orchestras
- Garland Symphony Orchestra — Patriotic Pops (2023)
- Rose City Chamber Orchestra, Portland, OR — Young Conductor Showcase (2009)
- Lubbock Camerata (2007)
Texas
- TMEA All-Region Orchestras — Regions 2, 3, 4/21, 5, 9, 13, 19, 20, 23, 24, 26 and 33
- TMEA All-State Orchestras — off-stage conductor (2013, 2015)
- Prosper, McKinney and Rockwall ISD All-City Orchestras
- UT-Arlington Summer Strings — co-conductor since 2018
- El Paso Summer String Institute (2011)
Alaska
- Alaska All-State Orchestra (2021)
- Anchorage School District — residency at eight schools and festival adjudicator (2019)
Arkansas
- North Region Concert Orchestra (2021)
- South Region HS Honor Orchestra (2019)
Nevada
- Clark County High School Honor Orchestra (2019)
- Nevada ASTA Music Festival — adjudicator (2019)
- Las Vegas school clinics (2019)
Utah
- UMEA High School Orchestra Festival (2022)
- UMEA State Jr. High Orchestra Festival (2020)
New Mexico · Oklahoma · Wisconsin
- Santa Fe Youth Orchestra Fall Retreat (2018)
- Oklahoma City Youth Chamber Orchestra (2017)
- Marquette University Orchestra Festival, Milwaukee (2017, 2018)
California · Oregon
- ASTA National Orchestra Festival, San Francisco (2026)
- Rose City Chamber Orchestra, Portland (2009)
For your program book
Organizer press kit
Booking
Check Ryan’s availability
Share your dates and ensemble, and Ryan will reply about availability and repertoire. Honor orchestra seasons fill early, so reaching out a year or more ahead is ideal.
Prefer email? ryantross@gmail.com