| Degree | Area of Study | Institution | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| D.M.A. | Percussion Performance | University of South Carolina | 2009 |
| M.M. | Percussion Performance | Florida State University | 2001 |
| B.M. | Music Education | Furman University | 1999 |
About
Dr. Ryan C. Lewis is associate professor of percussion at Ouachita Baptist University where he teaches Percussion and Music History courses and directs the Percussion Ensemble, Marching Band Drum Line and Steel Drum Ensembles. Previously he served on the music faculties of Claflin University, the University of South Carolina and Florida State University.
Lewis has performed as timpanist-percussionist with many professional symphony orchestras and under the direction of maestros Keith Lockhart, David Zinman, and Leonard Slatkin. He has served as principal percussionist of the Spartanburg Symphony Orchestra and given solo, chamber and lecture-recital presentations at Percussive Arts Society International Conventions and College Music Society National Conventions.
Lewis has appeared with So Percussion, Third Coast Percussion, Bob Becker, John Harbison, Mannheim Steamroller, Smokey Robinson, Habib Koité and Haiqiong Deng in her Carnegie Hall debut. Lewis has appeared with steel pan virtuoso Liam Teague, Supernovas Steel Orchestra and Sforzata Steel Orchestra in Trinidad and Tobago. He currently performs with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, Texarkana Symphony Orchestra, Southern Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and chamber groups Trio di Risata and Duo Matre.
An expert on celebrity percussionist George Hamilton Green, his scholarly activities include published articles in "Percussive Notes," research presentations at Percussive Arts Society International Conventions and College Music Society National Conventions and a curated special exhibit at the Rhythm Discovery Center and Museum. He is author of the music appreciation textbook "MusiConnections" from Great River Learning Publications and a forthcoming biography of George Hamilton Green.
A past President of the Arkansas Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society, Lewis is an active member of PAS and the College Music Society and an Artist-Educator for Dynasty instruments, Innovative Percussion sticks and mallets, Black Swamp Percussion instruments, Evans drum heads and Sabian cymbals.
Fun Facts
Why did you enter the teaching profession?
I became a music educator after experiencing the pride in helping fellow percussionists pass their middle school scale tests, and this passion for student success continues today at Ouachita.
What is a favorite moment of working with students at Ouachita?
This is my favorite part of working at Ouachita: helping students find their path
and seeing them succeed in the future.
What are your hobbies?
I listen to 80s rock rather loudly, play racquetball rather poorly, read sci-fi/fantasy
books rather slowly, but, by all accounts, I cook Italian and French food rather well!
Areas of Expertise
Featured Courses Taught:
- Applied Percussion
- Percussion Ensemble
- Tiger Drum Line
- Steel Drum Ensembles (Advanced, Beginning, Community)
- World Music
- American Popular Music
- Music Appreciation
- Percussion Literature
- Pedagogy
Featured Publications/Presentations:
- Forthcoming first-ever biography of famous percussionists the Green Brothers
- "MusiConnections," a music appreciation textbook used in OBU's Fine Art Music courses
- Articles published in "Percussive Notes," the journal of the Percussive Arts Society
Involvement
- Percussive Arts Society
- College Music Society
- Red Cross of America
- Church worship and education
- Arkansas Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society, past president
Artist Bio
Publications:
- Forthcoming first-ever biography of famous percussionists the Green Brothers
- "MusiConnections," a music appreciation textbook used in OBU's Fine Art Music courses
- Articles published in "Percussive Notes," the journal of the Percussive Arts Society
Honors/Awards:
- Teacher of the Year, George W. Munroe Elementary School
- Florida Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award
- University of South Carolina National Endowment of the Arts Grant for an after-school steel drum band for underprivileged youth
Positions:
- Chair, Department of Music History in the School of Performing Arts
- Past-President, Arkansas Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society
- Education Committee Member, Percussive Arts Society