Adjunct Faculty
Office/Department: Music, Department of
Location: Bangsberg Hall 361
Box #: 16
Email: ryan.webber@bemidjistate.edu
Bio
Ryan Webber is a conductor, trombonist, and educator based out of Bemidji Minnesota. He received a Bachelor of Music in Trombone Performance from the University of California, Irvine, studying under David Stetson, and a Master of Music in Trombone Performance from the University of Kansas, studying under Dr. Michael Davidson. Additional trombone studies have been completed with Graeme Mutchler, Michael Hoffman, and Dr. Jim Kraft. Professor Webber has studied conducting with Dr. Mathias Elmer, Dr. Kevin Sütterlin, Dr. Paul Popiel, and Dr. Stephen Tucker.
Professor Webber has taught at Bemidji State since 2017. He currently teaches applied low brass, low brass methods, and directs the Symphonic Band, Trombone Choir, and Pep Band. He served as assistant conductor for BSU Opera productions of Pirates of Penzance in 2018 and is the music director for the Fall 2021 production of The Old Maid and the Thief.
As an orchestral musician, Professor Webber has performed with the Bemidji, Heartland, Southeast Kansas, Kansas City Civic, and Corona Symphony Orchestras. In addition to performances around the United States, he toured China with the MasterWorks Festival Orchestra in 2014. Artists he has performed with include Natalie Cole, Bill Watrous, Jim Oatts, and Michael W. Smith.
Professor Webber maintains an active schedule as a conductor. In 2019, he was appointed Music Director of the Heartland Symphony. During the summers, he serves as Music Director and Vocal Coach for the Northern Light Opera Company. Professor Webber was awarded a fellowship with Sinfonietta Memphis in 2021 — he was selected from a pool of 60 international conductors to rehearse and guest conduct one of the leading historically-informed performance practice ensembles in the nation. Other groups he has worked with include Lawrence Youth Symphony (which doubled in size during his tenure), Youth Orchestras of Kansas City, La Primavera Youth Orchestra, and Community Youth Orchestra of Southern California. Professor Webber is equally at home working with concert bands — during the summers he regularly appears with the Bemidji Area Concert Band.
When Professor Webber isn’t performing, he enjoys sharing his passion for music with students of all ages. He has given pre-concert lectures for the Minnesota and Indianapolis Symphony Orchestras, and has written program notes for soloists and ensembles of all sizes, including releases for Naxos. As an administrator, he serves as the Online News Coordinator for the International Trombone Association.