Ryan Loud

Ryan Loud, a percussionist from Massachusetts, graduated with honors from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in 2007. He holds a bachelor’s degree in percussion performance with a focus in jazz and world music studies. During his time at UMass, Ryan studied with percussion professor Jamie Eckert, drum set professor Chris Poudrier and jazz/world music professor Royal Hartigan. His studies brought him to Panama in 2006 to perform in their annual jazz festival, as well as to Ghana, West Africa in 2006 and 2007, to study the music, dancing and culture. From 2013-2015, Ryan was a part-time lecturer at UMass, teaching West African drumming, dancing and song. To this day, he still performs with various West African ensembles as a guest artist.

In 2004, Ryan began his work as a percussion specialist for the King Philip regional school district, teaching students from Wrentham, Norfolk and Plainville, M.A. He upheld a 19 year career, teaching group and private percussion lessons for all grade levels, elementary-12th grade. In 2007, Ryan started a new and exciting program for King Philip called “World Percussion”. Unique to its kind in the New England area, students of the class studied West African and Afro-Cuban percussion with Ryan as well as various guest artists, including master artists from Ghana. In 2012, Ryan added steel drums to the class curriculum. The King Philip Steel Band has since evolved into a community ensemble called “Loud Steel”, performing every summer for the Pan Mass Challenge bicycle charity race and other various community performances.

Ryan has had extensive experience working with marching bands and indoor percussion groups. From 2004-2007, Ryan started his front ensemble teaching experience working under Tom Aungst at Dartmouth High School. In 2007, he took the front ensemble position at King Philip. Growing in this role, Ryan maintained the title of front ensemble arranger until 2018, working with both outdoor and indoor groups.

Ryan continues to perform professionally throughout the New England area on drum set, jazz vibraphone and world percussion. Since 2003, he has played drum set in the calypso band known as ‘El Caribe”, based out of New Bedford and led by UMass percussion professor Jamie Eckert. He has played drum set in small jazz groups, big bands, afro-high life groups and many more. From 2012-2015, Ryan collaborated with Paul Nagel, former pianist to Bobby Mcferrin and Boz Scaggs, on a surplus of original works and has maintained a recording relationship since. Ryan continues to further his endeavors as a composer, recording artist, performer and educator. He currently lives in Southborough, Massachusetts with his wife and two children.