Jonathan Ryan plays for a new recording on the Raven label, featuring the organ built in 2011 by Parkey OrganBuilders for the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans in Shreveport, Louisiana. The program includes the first recording of the Three Liturgical Improvisations by George Oldroyd (1887–1956) and also the first recording of Prelude on Resignation by Zachary Wadsworth (b. 1983), commissioned by Ryan from his classmate at the Eastman School of Music, along with works by Shearing, Travis, Tournemire, Dupré, Schumann, Eben, Byrd, and Bach.
Ryan is the recipient of six first prizes at international and national organ playing competitions, including the Jordan International Organ Competition (2009). First place awards conferred on Ryan were in the Poister (2006), Rodland (2006), Schweitzer (2004), and Augustana Arts-Reuter (2003) competitions. He has studied with David Higgs and William Porter at the Eastman School of Music, Todd Wilson at the Cleveland Institute of Music (where he was also Wilson’s assistant at Church of the Covenant), Joyce Jones at Baylor University, and André Lash earlier.
Jonathan Ryan currently serves as organist/choirmaster at St. Mary’s Church in Nutley, New Jersey, and visiting artist at St. James Cathedral Concerts in Chicago, where he regularly appears both as a collaborative and solo performer. Jonathan Ryan concertizes under the auspices of Karen McFarlane Artists, Inc.
For information: 804/355-6386; www.ravencd.com.
