Kwamé Ryan
Encyclopedia
Kwamé Ryan is a Canadian conductor of Trinidadian
descent. He is the son of Selwyn Ryan,a University Professor, and Joya Gomez, a school teacher and actress. He had his primary and early musical educationer at the University School, St Augustine, Trinidad. A month after his birth, the family moved to Uganda. Several years later, the family moved to Trinidad.
Ryan attended Oakham School
, in Rutland
, England, and then studied at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge
. His UK mentors included Lynn Binstock and Mark Elder
. In Germany
, Ryan attended the University of Tübingen for one year, for language and culture studies. Ryan later studied conducting with Peter Eötvös
in Freiburg
on a university exchange program. Other conducting mentors included Lothar Zagrosek
. From 1999 to 2003, he served as Generalmusikdirektor (GMD, General Music Director) of the Freiburg Opera and Freiburg Philharmonic Orchestra. His work there included a commercial recording of Luigi Nono
's Prometeo
, as second conductor.
Ryan made his professional UK conducting debut at the 2004 Edinburgh International Festival
. He subsequently returned to the Edinburgh Festival in 2005 as conductor of ballet performances with the Scottish Ballet
and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra
. His UK opera conducting debut was in October 2005 with English National Opera
, in a production of Salome
.
In 2007, Ryan became music director of the Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine
(ONBA), for an initial contract of 3 years. As of the 2010-2011 season, he continues as the ONBA's music director. In July 2008, he was named music director of l'Orchestre Français des Jeunes, beginning in 2009.
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
descent. He is the son of Selwyn Ryan,a University Professor, and Joya Gomez, a school teacher and actress. He had his primary and early musical educationer at the University School, St Augustine, Trinidad. A month after his birth, the family moved to Uganda. Several years later, the family moved to Trinidad.
Ryan attended Oakham School
Oakham School
Oakham School is a British co-educational independent school in the historic market town of Oakham in Rutland, accepting around 1,000 pupils, aged from 10 to 18, both male and female, as boarders and day pupils . The Good Schools Guide called the school "a privileged but unpretentious and...
, in Rutland
Rutland
Rutland is a landlocked county in central England, bounded on the west and north by Leicestershire, northeast by Lincolnshire and southeast by Peterborough and Northamptonshire....
, England, and then studied at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
. His UK mentors included Lynn Binstock and Mark Elder
Mark Elder
Sir Mark Philip Elder, CBE is a British conductor. He is the music director of the Hallé Orchestra in Manchester, England.-Biography:Elder was born in Hexham, Northumberland, England, the son of a dentist...
. In Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Ryan attended the University of Tübingen for one year, for language and culture studies. Ryan later studied conducting with Peter Eötvös
Peter Eötvös
Péter Eötvös is a Hungarian composer and conductor.Eötvös was born in Odorheiu Secuiesc/Székelyudvarhely, Szeklerland, Transylvania . He studied composition in Budapest and Cologne. From 1962, he composed for film in Hungary. Eötvös played regularly with the Stockhausen Ensemble between 1968 and...
in Freiburg
Freiburg
Freiburg im Breisgau is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. In the extreme south-west of the country, it straddles the Dreisam river, at the foot of the Schlossberg. Historically, the city has acted as the hub of the Breisgau region on the western edge of the Black Forest in the Upper Rhine Plain...
on a university exchange program. Other conducting mentors included Lothar Zagrosek
Lothar Zagrosek
Lothar Zagrosek is a German conductor. As a youth, he sang in the Regensburg Cathedral choir, including performances as the First Boy in The Magic Flute at the 1954 Salzburg Festival...
. From 1999 to 2003, he served as Generalmusikdirektor (GMD, General Music Director) of the Freiburg Opera and Freiburg Philharmonic Orchestra. His work there included a commercial recording of Luigi Nono
Luigi Nono
Luigi Nono was an Italian avant-garde composer of classical music and remains one of the most prominent composers of the 20th century.- Early years :Born in Venice, he was a member of a wealthy artistic family, and his grandfather was a notable painter...
's Prometeo
Prometeo
Prometeo is a 150-minute opera by Luigi Nono, written between 1981 and 1984 and revised in 1985. Here the word "opera" carries the generic Italian meaning of "work," as in work of art, and not its usual worldly meaning. Indeed, Nono scornfully labels "Prometeo" a "tragedia dell'ascolto," a tragedy...
, as second conductor.
Ryan made his professional UK conducting debut at the 2004 Edinburgh International Festival
Edinburgh International Festival
The Edinburgh International Festival is a festival of performing arts that takes place in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, over three weeks from around the middle of August. By invitation from the Festival Director, the International Festival brings top class performers of music , theatre, opera...
. He subsequently returned to the Edinburgh Festival in 2005 as conductor of ballet performances with the Scottish Ballet
Scottish Ballet
Scottish Ballet is the national ballet company of Scotland and one of the four leading ballet companies of the United Kingdom, alongside the Royal Ballet, English National Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet...
and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra
Scottish Chamber Orchestra
The Scottish Chamber Orchestra is Scotland's national chamber orchestra, based in Edinburgh. One of Scotland’s five National Performing Arts Companies, the SCO performs throughout Scotland, including annual tours of the Scottish Highlands and Islands and South of Scotland. The SCO appears...
. His UK opera conducting debut was in October 2005 with English National Opera
English National Opera
English National Opera is an opera company based in London, resident at the London Coliseum in St. Martin's Lane. It is one of the two principal opera companies in London, along with the Royal Opera, Covent Garden...
, in a production of Salome
Salome (opera)
Salome is an opera in one act by Richard Strauss to a German libretto by the composer, based on Hedwig Lachmann’s German translation of the French play Salomé by Oscar Wilde. Strauss dedicated the opera to his friend Sir Edgar Speyer....
.
In 2007, Ryan became music director of the Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine
Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine
The Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine is a French symphony orchestra based in Bordeaux. Its principal concert venue is the Palais des sports. In addition to its regular symphony concerts, the ONBA serves as the accompanying orchestra for the Opéra National de Bordeaux and the Ballet of the...
(ONBA), for an initial contract of 3 years. As of the 2010-2011 season, he continues as the ONBA's music director. In July 2008, he was named music director of l'Orchestre Français des Jeunes, beginning in 2009.