RYAN BARSKI

BIO

Born and raised in Rochester, New York, Ryan Barski is a jazz drummer currently studying with Rich Thompson at the Eastman School of Music, class of 2022. Ryan has been surrounded by music and the drum set from a very young age. Ryan comes from the town of Honeoye Falls-Lima and his dream is to follow a path similar to other HFL greats such as Ted Poor, Fred Sturm and Ike Sturm. Progressing through high school under the leadership of Mark Borden, his passion for music grew, leading to participation in Eastman’s Summer Jazz studies. This experience coupled with the tutelage of Rich Thompson, his set teacher from mid junior year to now, solidified his path of studying drum set performance at Eastman. In his current studies at the Eastman School of Music, Ryan has been fortunate enough to work with world renown faculty members such as Jeff Campbell, Bill Dobbins, Clay Jenkins, Gary Vercase, Dave Rivello, Darisuz Terefenko, Bob Sneider, Charles Pillow and Mark Kellog. Ryan received the 2017 Rochester International Jazz Festival Scholarship. He has performed at the Rochester International Jazz Festival annually since 2013. Ryan was fortunate enough to have his own show at the 2019 Jazz festival which featured the talents of Rafael Enciso, Jordan Lerner and CJ Ziarniak. Ryan has had the pleasure of meeting and working with musicians and drummers such as Steve Gadd, Chick Corea, Gene Perla, Billy Harper, Ryan Keberle, Ari Hoenig, Jared Schonig, Jeff Hamilton, Adam Nussbaum, Billy Hart and Matt Wilson. Ryan has experience in many different genres of music and has a passion for studying music theory and harmony to improve his versatility in musical situations. This facilitates his melodic approach to the drumset while respecting the tradition of many great jazz drummers of the past. Upon graduating from Eastman, he has aspirations of working his way into whatever opportunity comes his way.