Named as the 6th Music Director and Conductor of the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra, Ryan Haskins continues to attract international attention as one of the most innovative and creative concert presenters of his generation today.
During his tenure in the United Kingdom, Haskins held a number of positions with renowned ensembles. In the spring of 2006, he was Assistant Conductor to the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama’s critically acclaimed production of Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas. From there he went on to work with such ensembles as the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and the National Chorus of Wales. He was hand-selected as an associate conductor/deputy chorus master of the London Symphony Chorus and chorus master of selected LSC European concert tours. In 2007, Haskins was called upon by the staff of the London Symphony Chorus/London Symphony Orchestra to begin rehearsals for Sir Colin Davis’ recording/live radio broadcast of Berlioz’ Benvenuto Cellini.
There have been many festivals worldwide in which Haskins has participated. Among these are the Baldwin-Wallace Bach Festival (Cleveland, OH); the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music (Santa Cruz, CA); the International Conducting Workshop (Czech Republic); the Orkney Conducting Course, St. Magnus Festival (Scotland); and the Second International Polish Music Festival (Poland). Through these festivals and other engagements, he has had the opportunity to perform with such ensembles as the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the National Chorus of Wales, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, the Baltimore Symphony, the Florida Orchestra, the St. Magnus Festival Chorus, the Kreisler Ensemble, the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music Symphony Orchestra, the Manhattan School of Music Symphony Orchestra, and the Peabody Symphony and Opera Orchestra. Haskins has served as Assistant Conductor for the Muncie Symphony Orchestra (Ind.), Assistant Conductor to the Peabody Symphony Orchestra, Peabody Opera Orchestra, and Cover Conductor for Marin Alsop and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.
Haskins was chosen by Maestro Kurt Masur two years in a row to conduct in Masur’s selective conducting seminar/workshop in New York City. He was also one of a few young emerging conductors chosen to perform in the first Brahms Workshop under the direction of Maestri Mark Gibson and Gustav Meier in Cincinnati, Ohio. Haskins was also hand-selected by Maestra Marin Alsop as a participating conductor at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music (Santa Cruz, Calif.).
Haskins has a passion for inspiring young musicians and has been internationally recognized for his true enthusiasm and drive in the promotion of young American composers. Haskins annually holds workshops throughout the world that are focused on developing the aspiring orchestral player and is in demand for his creative and energetic approach to music education. An advocate for new exploratory ways of performance, he has been deemed as an innovator of creative and unique concert programs in and outside of the concert hall.
Haskins held an assistantship at the Peabody Conservatory as well as the position of Assistant Conductor to the Peabody Opera Department. He received intensive training under the renowned teacher, Gustav Meier alongside Maestra Marin Alsop and Markand Thakar. He holds degrees from the Peabody Conservatory of Music (Baltimore, MD), the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (Cardiff, Wales), and the Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory of Music (Cleveland, OH) under the tutelage of Dwight Oltman.
A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Ryan Haskins resides in Toronto, Canada.
