Daily Telegraph
I have to be selective in the face of so much talent... but particular mention should none the less be made of the guitarist Gary Ryan... With jewel-like precision Ryan made a stylish, thoughtful and rhythmically vital impression... All three works [Tippett, Ginastera and Stephen Oliver] demand just the technical prowess and insight Ryan possesses in order to bring them off with such fluency and musicality.
Geoffrey Norris
Times
...a sweet and graceful guitarist... his finely nuanced playing... confirmed both the physical and imaginative strength of his artistry.
Hilary Finch
Observer
A high point was Gary Ryan's playing... Ryan showed his sheer prowess...
Andrew Porter
Sunday Times
A fine guitarist... I cannot imagine Gary Ryan ever wanting to abandon the showpiece of Tippett's The Blue Guitar which he plays so seductively...
Paul Driver
Independent
...I sat up for... a guitarist of outstanding musicality called Gary Ryan who played works by Tippett and Ginastera with an impeccable but pliant strength that handsomely defined the contours of the writing.
Michael White
Classical Guitar Magazine
...Gary Ryan electrified a lunchtime audience at the Guildhall [Bath, UK] with a wonderful Aquarelle by Sergio Assad, which he surpassed with an even more wonderful Sonata by Ginastera. Having heard it some twenty times by different guitarists, I can say that this was one of the best...
Colin Cooper
Classical Guitar Magazine
...a guitarist of great fluency and confidence... powerful hands... remarkable colours... sheer velocity... totally commanding... radiant tone... vivid and exciting...
Stephen Kenyon
Plymouth Evening Herald
There is nothing more exhilarating than hearing a great exponent perform on his instrument and such was the case with Gary Ryan's recital... His tremendous technical prowess was in evidence from the first bar... an outstanding feast of music.
Philip Buttall
Sergio Assad
Thankyou for playing my music so beautifully.
On a performance of his piece 'Aquarelle'
Giles Swayne
Wonderfully accurate and acutely thoughtful and sound-aware.
On a performance of his piece 'Solo'
Haverhill Echo
a technically briliant performance... beautiful and expressive...
David Hart
Les Cahiers de la Guitare
Gary Ryan is an Englishman whose name you must remember! With purity of expression, dynamic clarity, a beautiful tone and controlled virtuosity, he presented an original programme... Bien!
Danielle Ribouillault
Sidmouth Evening Herald
We were treated to some exquisite playing from Gary Ryan...
Arts Section
Bath International Guitar Festival
One of Britain's most exciting young performers whose seemingly effortless virtuosity is at the service of mature and impressive understanding of the music. Our invitation to teach at Bath 1997 followed an exceptional concert last year...
IGF Brochure
Classical Guitar Magazine
...the Kirckman Concert Society turned out in force to show their enthusiasm for this substantial programme by a very talented young British guitarist... a tour de force, Gary Ryan's first-rate technique and strongly rhythmic instincts achieved a forceful clarity... The success of this concert, given before a basically non-guitar audience surely gives hope for the future. Gary Ryan deserves high praise for his sensible programming and fine musicianship.
Colin Cooper
Musical Opinion
...here is a player who knows what magical sounds can be coaxed from the guitar. His technique is formidable and his programme planning quite excellent. I have no doubt at all that he will achieve high success... the whole recital was a delight... bringing further evidence of high class musicianship.
Geoffrey Crankshaw
Trinity College London
...it should raise a few eyebrows amongst the critics to see, on a Monday evening [at the Purcell Room, London], a full house with ages ranging from 8 to 80 - and with latecomers not even being able to get a ticket!
John Davey - Chief Executive
Cyprus Herald
...one of the finest guitarists of his time.
Arts Section
Cyprus Today
...an engagingly free and easy manner and quick repartee warmed the audience to the guitarist Gary Ryan... After only a few notes had been struck, it was obvious that we were in for an evening of delight... only the intricacy and nimbleness of his finger work gave any hint of just how difficult some of the pieces really were - he made them seem so easy... the keyboard would have been taxed to the full, but played on plucked strings it would have defeated most exponents. They did not daunt Mr Ryan however and they enchanted us. The clarity of phrasing was remarkable. From then on he continued to entrance with a richly varied programme. The abbey refectory was packed and the audience demanded the by now traditional encore.
Arts Section
Bruce MacCombie
...Gary Ryan's brilliant performance brings whole new dimensions of musical and interpretative mastery to this work... a master of the guitar...
Dean of the Arts, Boston University on a performance of his piece 'Nightshade Rounds'
Peoplesound.com
...one of our most popular classical artists...
Geoff Heddle , Head of Classical Music, Peoplesound.com
West Sussex Guitar Club
Gary Ryan struck an immediate and tangible rapport with his audience... meticulous control and fluency... Ryan's playing brought out the fullness of Bach's genius and humanity.
Website review
The Chichester Observer
The whole audience was captivated by Gary's exciting and original interpretations of music for the guitar...
Arts section
Southampton Classical Guitar Society
As Gary Ryan walked on to the stage... it was perhaps appropriately, high noon, in the Wild West. This concert, attended by a fantastic 220 people did not forsake any of its promise in the build up. Indeed, so good was it that it needs no formal review. It was as close to perfection as I've seen from a classical guitar concert in terms of the technique, programming, musicality, and entertainment. This man is no cowboy! So instead of the normal review I asked about 15% of the audience what they thought of it. Here is a selection of their comments...
"Fantastic!... his playing is stunning and so, so musical."
"...his virtuosity was breathtaking... such a dazzling display."
"...so consistently superb... the range and versatility of his skill is one of the outstanding features of a Ryan recital."
"I thought the concert was fantastic. He plays like a demon - refreshing to hear such a rhythmic player."
"It was excellent. His playing was superb and his choice of music was always varied and interesting."
"Gary Ryan was clearly on a mission to show us all the wide opportunities available to a classical guitarist... what was communicated was a genuine affection for the guitar."
"Gary is in complete control of what he does, and the listener is never in any doubt that all of the pieces in the programme are going to be delivered entirely unblemished."
"His playing is outstanding, never better seen than in the Bach Prelude and Presto... Gary brings total musicianship to the guitar, and does it in an apparently effortless way which allows the listener to completely appreciate the beauty of the music."
"I have simply run out of superlatives. Gary Ryan is fantastic. Amazing technique, tremendous sensitivity, great programme."
"I loved the Scenes from the Wild West.
Society Newsletter - Wayne Lines and members' contributions
Jeffrey Wilson
Probably the most striking thing about this hugely enjoyable disc [Worlds Apart] is the way you dispel the myth (and fear) of the singular sound world of the guitar. This recording offers many stimulations; intellectual, sonic, humorous, 'personality', virtuosity and poise. 'Scenes from The Wild West' is a fine achievement... You never patronize and reveal affection and sincerity for your musical sources. Lastly, this CD will never be in my 'to do' list but always in my play list!
Guildhall School of Music
West Sussex Guitar Club
a wonderful teacher as well as an outstanding performer... Anyone who's seen Gary in action will testify to his dynamism, humour and infectious enthusiasm...
Alexander Leftov
Winchester Guitar Festival
The first Winchester Guitar Festival kicked off in June 2004 with resounding success. Guest artist, Gary Ryan, performed a spell binding concert at the Milner Hall.
Website review
Music Teacher
Perhaps more than any other piece on the Trinity syllabus this recent work by Gary Ryan is both fun to play and to listen to. The first impression of this piece is one of virtuosic complexity created by a myriad range of intricate right and left hand techniques... it is so cleverly and idiomatically constructed that delving into it reveals a world of highly effective and novel techniques which sit beautifully under the fingers.
Craig Ogden on 'Rondo Rodeo' from 'Scenes from The Wild West'
Dundee Courier
Gary Ryan['s]... John Dowland 'Fantasia' made a distinct impression... this was something special, quite beautifully played... His interpretation of a J S Bach lute prelude was even better. The final presto, an engaging little fugue, was performed with style, flair and impressive technique. A Rossini-like overture by Giuliani was equally stunning... I have to take my hat off to the soloist for a polished and... virtuosic performance.
Garry Fraser
Music Teacher
Like the French wizard of the guitar Roland Dyens, Ryan somehow manages to escape the predictable pitfalls of guitar writing despite his intimate knowledge of the instrument... The full 'Wild West' suite comprises six movements which contain musical references to a vast array of guitar styles and American music. Each movement captures the essence of its title with clarity and concision... what comes through in all this music when one is sufficiently familiar with it is an inherent playability which liberates the player... Movements can be taken from the suite and performed separately so Grade 7 students upwards to concert artists can explore this work piecemeal or in it entirety. Beautifully presented with great clarity... bearing in mind the substance and duration of the work, this publication represents excellent value...
Craig Ogden on 'Scenes from The Wild West'
EGTA
His evening recital produced a flawless performance with an amazing delivery of clarity and precision. Gary is a promising composer as well as consummate artiste and his concert featured several of his own works; these often explored unusual sonorities and effects on the guitar - to the delight of an appreciative audience.
On a recital at the EGTA UK Annual Conference
Classical Guitar Magazine
Gary Ryan continues to prove his worth as a perceptive and witty teacher of the guitar. He guides his students with a ceaseless enthusiasm that rubs off on the audience as well as his protegees.
On Gary Ryan's public masterclasses at the London IGF
Classical Guitar Magazine
... immense control... the sound he makes has the tones of good piano playing. There is a real sense of legato in the slower movement...
On Gary Ryan's performance of the Vivaldi Guitar Concerto at the London IGF
Classical Guitar Magazine
... a great piece to end a recital with... the piece itself was quite a powerful statement for the nylon-stringed instrument. I don't think I've heard anything quite like it. With an almost rock/pop refrain/sequence running throughout it 'Generator' is a piece I hope gets to many more ears as it shows Gary Ryan to be a talented composer. Superb stuff.
On the world premiere of 'Generator' for two guitars performed by the Eden-Stell Duo at the Bath IGF
Bromley Guitar Society
Gary Ryan's mastery of the classical guitar was never more evident that in the recital which he gave to a near capacity audience at the BGS October meeting. Gary chose a wide-ranging set of pieces drawn from each era of music from Baroque to Modern, and he performed these workds with the technical virtuosity and musical authority with we have come to expect from this outstanding artist.
Bromley Guitar Society Newsletter
Greenwood Classical Guitar Society
...at times I wanted to check there was only one performer present... the colour and tone brought out by Gary was superb... I can honestly say that this young man lived up to John William's standards as he embarked on a haunting solo.... All in all we were entertained royally and the insistence on an encore and long queues for CDs afterwards were testament to the quality of playing both technically and musically.
Steve Ledwick on a concert for The National Federation of Guitar Societies (2006)
Sevenoaks Chronicle
'Worlds Apart' is an exquisite blend of traditional guitar music and his [Ryan's] own innovative compositions, which draw on the rich tradition of the instrument, combining it with popular contemporary influences...
Caroline Hardy (2006)
Spartan Press on 'Scenes from The Wild West'
A suite of 6 superb pieces by Gary Ryan who many consider to be the UK's finest classical guitarist. Ryan's lyrical and atmospheric style effortlessly draws on the inspiration of images of America's Wild West to provide an exceptionally attractive set of pieces which can be performed individually or as a suite lasting 25 minutes. Ryan recorded the Suite on CD in 2003.
Spartan Press website review
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