Gary Ryan is one of the world's leading classical guitarists. He made his London recital debut at the Purcell Room for the Park Lane Group in 1994 to exceptional critical acclaim and was subsequently invited to perform a major series of recitals in London for the Kirckman Concert Society, winning universal praise for his formidable technique, outstanding musicianship and original concert programmes.

In addition to a busy schedule giving recitals, concertos and masterclasses at music societies and festivals throughout the UK, Gary Ryan has a fast growing international reputation with performances in the USA, Malaysia, Holland, France, Greece, Cyprus, Sweden, Romania, Hungary and Qatar over the past few years.

Gary Ryan was born in Kent, England in 1969. He studied with David Miller at the Guildhall School of Music Junior Department and later with Timothy Walker at the Royal Academy of Music, where in 1987 he won a scholarship to study full-time. In 1991 he graduated with first class honours and a host of awards including the Julian Bream Prize, the John Mundy String Prize and the Dorothy Grinstead Prize for the most outstanding all round student. He also received awards from the Fleming Trust and the Royal Academy of Music to pursue his post-graduate studies and in 1997 was made an Honorary Associate of the Royal Academy of Music, in recognition of his achievements.

At the age of 27 he was appointed one of the youngest ever Professors at the Royal College of Music and has gained a reputation as one of Britain's most respected guitar teachers. He currently helps run a popular guitar programme at the Royal College of Music, where, as he is also an accomplished pianist, he takes improvisation, aural and keyboard musicianship classes. He is widely sought after as an examiner and adjudicator and has appeared on the jury for the televised stages of the BBC Young Musician of the Year Competition and at many music festivals throughout the UK.

Other memorable engagements have included performing Sir Michael Tippett's The Blue Guitar at the composer's funeral, performing with the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House and recording for film and television including sessions for Sony and EMI. Gary Ryan is also the Director of Guitar France, a summer festival launched in 2006 teaching 'The Art of Guitar Performance' which, in 2008, will be located in the beautiful spa town of Bagnoles de l'Orne in Southern Normandy.

As a composer Gary Ryan has received great international acclaim for his highly innovative guitar compositions which draw on the rich tradition of the instrument, combining it with popular contemporary influences and extended instrumental techniques. His latest CD, Worlds Apart, includes his own celebrated work for guitar, Scenes from The Wild West which has become a best seller for Spartan Press. Subsequent commissions have resulted in several other ground breaking works for solo guitar, guitar duo and trio which have been performed in the UK, USA, Mexico, Australia, Austria, Germany, Holland, Italy and Turkey.

Gary Ryan's guitars are made by the English luthier, Stephen Hill.