ABOUT / mō

Originally from Rotorua, Ryan began playing the tuba at 14 as part of a school program. With all the trumpets already taken, he was left with a well-worn Eb Tuba—a decision that would unexpectedly shape his musical journey.

Ryan quickly rose through the ranks of New Zealand’s brass and orchestral music scene, serving as Principal Tuba for the National Youth Brass Band of New Zealand (2002–2004) and the New Zealand National Youth Orchestra (2002–2003). At just 16, he became the youngest musician selected for the New Zealand National Band, winning the NZ Junior Champion of Champions title the same year.

A music scholarship to King’s College led to further opportunities, including performing as Principal Tuba and soloist with Dalewool Auckland Brass, touring nationally and internationally. Over the years, his performances have taken him across New Zealand, Australia, the U.S., the UK, and South Korea, both as a soloist and ensemble musician.

In 2004, Ryan joined the New Zealand Army Band, later transitioning into a career as a freelance musician before expanding his focus into business. In 2015, he founded Niche FM, a company specialising in facilities and project management, while also investing in property, shared office spaces, and SaaS ventures.

Today, Ryan continues to balance his music and business careers, blending creativity with strategic thinking. He enjoys mentoring students, exploring new recording projects, and pushing the boundaries of what the tuba can do—whether in classical, jazz, or funk. Never one to be confined by tradition, he prefers to explore and express musicality in ways that align with his creativity, always looking for new ways to redefine the role of the tuba in modern music.

Ryan is a MusicWorks NZ Performing Artist and performs on an EBE853 Eastman Tuba and R3SX Randefalk Mouthpiece.