Palouse Double Reed Fest
Guest Artist Information
Ryan Walsh is the principal oboist of the American Pops Orchestra. He formerly served as oboe/English horn player for the Broadway National Tour of Les Misérables, adjunct professor of oboe at Montclair State University, and second oboe/English Horn player with the Minnesota Opera. Ryan has appeared with such notable ensembles as the New York Philharmonic, Baltimore Symphony, American Ballet Theater, American Symphony, and on Broadway in Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812. Beyond live orchestral performance, Ryan is an active studio musician, appearing on the soundtracks for The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, The Goldfinch, The Good Liar, West Side Story, Disney’s Noelle, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. He was prominently featured on the New Year’s Eve 2014 New York Philharmonic Live From Lincoln Center broadcast and has frequently been heard on PRI, NPR and NYC WQXR-FM. Ryan holds degrees from Mannes College of Music. He studied with New York Philharmonic members Sherry Sylar and Thomas Stacy.
Ann Shoemaker, bassoonist, is highly regarded as a music educator, soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player. She currently serves as Associate Professor of Bassoon and Coordinator of Woodwinds at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, and has been on the faculties of Furman University, Davidson College, and the North Carolina School of the Arts. Her students have found continued success in professional orchestras, military bands, as freelance musicians, educators, and music administrators. Shoemaker is currently the principal bassoonist with Shreveport Symphony Orchestra and Waco Symphony Orchestra. She frequently performs guest solo recitals across the country and has performed internationally in The Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, and Venezuela. A recipient of the Hayes Fellowship, Dr. Shoemaker completed her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Furman University and a Master of Music degree from Yale School of Music, where she was awarded the Nyfenger Award for Outstanding Woodwind Performance. Dr. Shoemaker is a Fox Bassoon performing artist.