Ryan Keebaugh
Marching Band Wind Composer
Ryan Keebaugh (b. 7.13.1980 in Martinsville, Virginia) is an active composer, arranger, conductor, performer and sound artist in the Northern Virginia / Washington DC area. He is currently the composer-in-residence with Factory 449, a theater collective in Washington DC. Since their foundation in April of 2009, Factory 449 was awarded the DC Theatre Scene Award for BEST PLAY and Capital Fringe Festival/Theatremania Audience Awards for BEST DRAMA & BEST OVERALL PRODUCTION at the 2009 Capital Fringe Festival held in Washington DC for their production of Sarah Kane’s play, 4.48 Psychosis. Following the inaugural productions sensation Factory 449 continued performances at The Warehouse Theatre in Washington DC to rave reviews from the Washington Post, The Examiner and the DC Theatre Scene.
As a composer, Ryan’s music centers on natural sonic environments and timbral structures as an aesthetic mean to create music for sound installation, electronic media, and experimental and new music concerts. He has worked and collaborated with visual artists, dancers, actors and film directors across the east coast and has held residency at the Wildacres Artist Colony and recently named the 2010-2011 Artist-in-Residence with Winchester Musica Viva.
In February of 2008, Ryan received a commission from The Catholic University of America’s President’s Festival of the Arts: Playing, Singing, Talking Wilder to compose new incidental music for the production of Thornton Wilder’s Mozart and the Grey Steward. In July of 2008, Ryan received an additional commission from The Catholic University of America to compose the opening fanfare for the annual Christmas Concert for Charity held at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The work was premièred by the CUA University Chorus and Orchestra under the direction of Leo Nestor and David Searle and was televised worldwide on EWTN-TV. Recent premieres include stilLness for double choir, by Millbrook High School, …the last words for choir, violin and piano by the Winchester Musica Viva , and Shardsfor piano, by Scot Hawkins. Upcoming and recent commissions for the 2010-2011 season include sound design for The Edge Theater Company’s production of Peter Shaffer’s Equus, wind ensemble pieces for Lawrence Conservatory and Hickory Ridge H.S., the Bridgewater College Alumni Choir, new piano works for Scot Hawkins, and a new choral work for the Winchester Musica Viva. Currently, Ryan is an active wind composer and arranger for numerous high school marching bands and indoor ensembles across the country including South Mecklenburg High School, South Pointe High School, Lower Dauphin High School, Conestoga Valley High School, Fauquier High School, Northern Lehigh High School, Kettle Run High School, Clarke County High School, and the InnoVAtion percussion ensemble. Ryan’s marching band compositions are currently published by Countermotion, Inc.
Ryan has received degrees from Bridgewater College (BA), Shenandoah University (MM), The Catholic University of America (DMA), and his principal composition teachers include, John Barr, John Hilliard, William Averitt, Jena Root, Roshanne Etezady, Daniel McCarthy, Libby Larsen, Andrew Simpson, and Steven Strunk. He has also participated in masterclasses with William Bolcom, John Adams, Robert Dick, Houston Dunleavy and Steve Reich.