Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, Ryan joins Charlotte Latin as Director of Choirs. He graduated from Norfolk State University in Norfolk, VA, with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education. After teaching for one year in Williamsburg, Ryan moved to Charlotte and has been teaching in the area for seven years. Ryan frequently sings with Opera Carolina and is the choir director at Unity Presbyterian Church in Denver, NC. When not teaching, he enjoys riding his motorcycles (a 2003 Harley Davidson Fat Boy and a vintage Yamaha), singing karaoke, and exploring the ever-growing restaurant scene in Charlotte. Let’s get to know Ryan a little more:

WHAT'S THE MOST DARING THING YOU'VE EVER DONE?
 The most daring thing I've ever done is race motorcycles, but I plan to top that with sky-diving, hopefully in the near future.

IF YOU COULD CHOOSE TO DO ANYTHING FOR A DAY, WHAT WOULD IT BE? 
If I could do anything for a day, I would probably choose a trip to the mountains or beach on my Harley.

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH THE MOST? 
Really good Dad-jokes.

DO YOU HAVE A PERSONAL MANTRA? 
I have two, the first being “Palmam Qui Meruit Ferat,” which means Honor to One Who Earns It. The second is really my philosophy of teaching, “Tell me, I forget; Show me, I remember; Involve me, I understand.” I strive to involve my students in many experiences through music in hopes that they will create life-long memories and gain an affinity for music. 

 WHAT SUPERPOWERS DO YOU WISH YOU HAD? 
I wish I had the power to teleport. It would be great to be able to visit more places in my off time without losing a lot of that time to travel.  

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FAMILY HOLIDAY TRADITION? 
My favorite family holiday tradition is Christmas breakfast. We get up around 7:30 a.m. Christmas day and make a huge breakfast together before opening gifts.

ON A SCALE OF 1-10, HOW FUNNY WOULD YOU SAY YOU ARE? 
I would say I have moments where I'm a solid 7 on the funny scale.

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR? 
My biggest fear is clusters of holes in natural things. The name of the phobia escapes me at the moment and I can’t Google it, because images of what I dislike will show up. :-/  (Editor’s note: it’s called Trypophobia.)

DO YOU COLLECT ANYTHING? 
I collect hats — mostly wide-brim fedoras.

IF YOU COULD JOIN ANY PAST OR CURRENT MUSIC GROUP WHICH WOULD YOU WANT TO JOIN? 
I would have to say the Temptations or the Pentatonix.