Ryan hails from Londonderry, Northern Ireland, where he began his piping career in 1992 at the age of fourteen. Remarkably, it was just four years later that he joined the world renowned Field Marshal Montgomery, one of the most celebrated pipe bands of all time. In his tenured eleven seasons with the band, Ryan has won six Scottish Championships, three British Championship, six European Championships, ten Ulster Championships, nine All-Ireland Championships, five Cowal Championships, four RSPBA Champion of Champions awards, and four coveted World Championship titles.
Ryan’s piping success extends beyond his achievements with the illustrious Field Marshal. Ryan, a budding solo competitor, has taken numerous prizes on the Irish scene at the Ulster and All-Ireland Solos, as well as first place finishes at the Piper of the Year on more than one occasion. In his first year on the Scottish solo circuit, Ryan walked away with several top prizes in the B grades, most recently finishing off the 2005 season as winner of the MSR and runner up of the Hornpipe and Jig at London.
Ryan’s compositions have made him a household name amongst music fans. Ryan’s music is played by bands and soloists the world over and is recorded on numerous CDs, including the World Championship series in 1997, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, the double Millennium Concert Album in 2000, Manawatu’s The Calling in 2004, and Field Marshal Montgomery’s Unplugged Album in 2002. The 2004 release of his first music book, The Full Monty, gained great reviews world wide and an honourable mention as one of the best books of the year from Piper and Drummer Online.
Ryan is highly sought after as both instructor and performer, and has travelled as far as France, Australia, and the United States to teach classes and workshops, and has been a featured recitalist for numerous bands and piping societies. Despite his competitive background, Ryan is most at home performing his own compositions in an informal “kitchen piping” setting, where speed, excitement, and the entertainment of the audience remain his chief enjoyment. Ryan moved to Scotland in 2003 where he began a career in the piping industry, working with McCallum Bagpipes as their Production and Despatch Manager. After just three years he was ready to pioneer his own company, founding Canning Reedmakers in March 2006, and establishing a new line of his own top quality bagpipe reeds.
Ryan recently joined the Piping Centre as “Post School Learning Co-ordinator” and is mainly responsible for the Evening Classes.
To contact Ryan email rcanning@thepipingcentre.co.uk
