Ryan Loud (b. 1984), a percussionist from Massachusetts, graduated with honors from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in 2007. He holds a bachelor’s degree in percussion performance with a focus in jazz and world music studies. During his time at UMass, Ryan studied with percussion professor Jamie Eckert, drum set professor Chris Poudrier, and jazz/world music professor Royal Hartigan. His studies brought him to Panama in 2006 to perform in their annual jazz festival, as well as to Ghana, West Africa in 2006 and 2007 to study the music, dancing, and culture.
From 2013 to 2015, Ryan was a part-time lecturer at UMass Dartmouth, teaching West African drumming, dancing, and song. He continues to perform regularly with the Kekeli West African Drum and Dance Ensemble, founded by Prof. Hartigan, and as a guest artist with various groups presenting Ghanaian music.
In 2004, Ryan began working as a percussion specialist for the King Philip Regional School District, teaching students from Wrentham, Norfolk, and Plainville, MA. Over a 19-year career, he taught group and private percussion lessons for students in grades K–12. In 2007, Ryan founded World Percussion, a unique program in the New England area where students studied West African and Afro-Cuban percussion with Ryan and visiting guest artists. In 2012, he added steel drums to the curriculum, which led to the formation of the King Philip Steel Band, later evolving into a community ensemble called Loud Steel. This group performs every summer for the Pan Mass Challenge charity bike race and other community events.
Ryan also has extensive experience with marching bands and indoor percussion groups. From 2004 to 2007, he worked under Tom Aungst, instructing the Dartmouth front ensemble. In 2007, he took over the front ensemble at King Philip and served as the arranger from 2010 to 2018, contributing to both the outdoor and indoor programs.
As a performer, Ryan plays drum set, mallet percussion, and world percussion professionally throughout New England. Since 2003, he has played drum set with El Caribe, a calypso band based in New Bedford led by Jamie Eckert. He has also performed in jazz combos, big bands, Afro-highlife groups, and more. Since 2012, he has collaborated with pianist Paul Nagel—former sideman to Bobby McFerrin and Boz Scaggs—producing numerous original jazz recordings, many of which can be streamed on Ryan’s Spotify and Apple Music pages.
Ryan continues to pursue work as a composer, recording artist, performer, and educator. He currently lives in Southborough, Massachusetts with his wife and two children.
An uplifting percussion ensemble piece supported by a jazz rhythm section, playable in a variety of instrumentation formats.
Duration: 6:10
Level: Med-Advanced
Personnel: 2-6 players
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