Biography

Acclaimed for his strong communicative skills in numerous styles, exceptional use of the organ’s capabilities, and creative programming, Jonathan Ryan has quickly emerged as one of North America’s premier young concert artists.  With a repertoire spanning the 16^th- to 21^st-centuries, he has performed at celebrated venues throughout the United States, Germany, and France.  Among the few organists ever distinguished with six First Prize awards at major international and national competitions, he most notably received First Prize in the 2009 Jordan II International Organ Competition.  Founded in 2001, the American-based Jordan Competition is one of the premier organ competitions of the world and offers one of the most substantial First Prize awards of any organ competition.  At the 2009 Jordan Competition, Jonathan was additionally awarded the LeTourneau Prize, given for the best performance of a newly commissioned work for organ and percussion ensemble.  Additional testaments of his capability include First Prize in the 2006 Arthur Poister National Organ Competition, the 2006 John Rodland Scholarship Competition, the 2004 Albert Schweitzer National Organ Competition (Young Professional Division), and the 2003 Augustana Arts-Reuter National Organ Competition.

As a recitalist, Jonathan’s performances have taken him to numerous prominent venues including the Cathédrale St-André in Bordeaux (France), the Nicolaikirche in Leipzig (Germany), the Marienkirche in Lübeck (Germany), the Hauptkirche St. Petri in Hamburg (Germany), the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC, and Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago, IL.  He has additionally been featured as a solo recitalist at the 2010 Organ Historical Society National Convention in Pittsburgh, PA.  Upcoming and recent solo performance engagements include his début concert tour of Germany with nine recitals at important venues, recitals at St. Paul's Cathedral, London (UK) and Truro Cathedral (UK), recitals on the Organ Historical Society's 2012 National Convention in Chicago, IL, the Piccolo Spoleto Festival’s prestigious Spotlight Series (Charleston, SC), the inaugural concert series at the Cathedral of Christ the Light in Oakland, CA and the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans in Shreveport, LA, the inaugural recital at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Comforter in Charlotte, NC, the opening recital of a new Symposium on Charles Tournemire (Ft. Lauderdale/Miami, FL), recitals at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston, TX, Church of the Holy Family in New York, NY, Church of the Epiphany in Miami, FL, St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Dallas, TX, California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, CA, Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, NE, Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Chestertown, MD, and recitals sponsored by chapters of the American Guild of Organists in Cleveland, OH, Kansas City, MO, Charlotte, NC, and Little Rock, AR.

A native of Charlotte, NC, Jonathan first started playing the organ at age eight.  He studied organ primarily with André Lash before entering the studio of Joyce Jones at Baylor University.  He then went on to complete a Bachelor of Music degree with academic honors from the Cleveland Institute of Music where he studied organ, improvisation, and church music with Todd Wilson.  During Jonathan’s undergraduate studies in Cleveland, he was awarded the Henry Fusner Prize for outstanding achievement in the Cleveland Institute of Music’s organ department, and also served as Prof. Wilson’s assistant at Church of the Covenant.  As a student of David Higgs, he received a Master of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music where he studied improvisation with William Porter.  Additionally, Jonathan holds the revered Fellow certificate from the American Guild of Organists, the Guild’s highest ranking professional certification, as well as the Choirmaster certificate for which he received the 2006 Choirmaster Prize for the highest national Choirmaster certificate exam score that year.

Also a dedicated church musician and at home as a conductor, Jonathan is Visiting Artist at St. James Cathedral (Episcopal) Concerts in Chicago, IL, and on the music staff at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit in Lake Forest, IL.  He has served as organist and faculty at summer Colloquium conferences of the Church Music Association of America, and previously held director, conducting and organist positions at St. John Cantius Church in Chicago, IL and St. Anne Church in Rochester, NY where he was Artistic Director of the Music at St. Anne concert series and University Organist at the University of Rochester.  An advocate of new music, he has performed and conducted the premiere of many liturgical and solo works.

Biografie auf Deutsch
Biographie en Français