Ryan McGeorge
My Pedal Philosophy
“Effects pedals are tools of creative expression as well as a means to participate in a broader scope of genres and innovative collaboration. Most instruments have an established identity which is based on the instrument’s past role in music history. Traditionally when we learn an instrument, we study its history and learn the repertoire within its established genres. This traditional style of learning to play music certainly has its practical advantages, but at some point musicians may find that participation solely within an established musical existence can ultimately become limiting depending on the instrument. Some instruments have a wider variety of established opportunities than others, and the Euphonium can be especially limited in this way. Electronic effects allow me to expand the tone color palette of my instrument in a multitude of sonic directions which allows me to more easily function within a wider variety of ensembles and genres. I like using effects which subtly blend in and enhance my natural sound, and also completely transform it into something new and unrecognizable as a euphonium.”
Bio
Gear
-Sennheiser 421 Mic
-Keeley Compressor Pro
-Whirlwind Bass Ten EQ
-Eventide PitchFactor Harmonizer
-Seymour Duncan Vapor Trail Delay
-Earthquaker Devices Sea Machine Chorus
-Source Audio C4 Synth
-Digitech Dirty Robot Synth
-Geoffrey Teese RMC8 Wah
-Decimator Noise Reduction
-Ernie Ball JR Volume Pedal
-Digitech Jam Man Express Looper
Ryan McGeorge is a Euphonium player and Valve Trombonist in the Washington DC area. He currently holds a position with “The President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band where he performs a wide variety of musical genres. Ryan has always been an active collaborative artist, driven to push the euphonium out of its traditional role as a musician, and also as an arranger and composer. Outside of his military music career he is active in several creative groups such as Euphonasia, a jazz fusion group Ryan formed and headlined where he performs exclusively through electronic effects pedals. Their debut album, “Dark Blue Hair,” showcases many of Ryan’s original compositions and arrangements. Ryan was also a founding member of Off Bass Brass, a versatile Tuba/Euphonium Quartet joined by a rhythm section for which he also wrote many arrangements and an original composition. Their most recent jazz/rock fusion album, “Tubacus Galacticus” won the “Roger Bobo Award for Excellence in Recording” from ITEA (International Tuba/Euphonium Association). Most recently, he has been collaborating with the progressive rock band Strum the Fox, in which Ryan performs almost exclusively through electronic effects pedals often resembling a synthesizer or guitar and he also sings backing vocals. Their EP “Vulpeculated” was released in 2019 and showcases collaboratively written originals.
More traditionally, Ryan has performed with the Army Blues Jazz Ensemble, the Dallas Wind Symphony, Brass of the Potomac, the Harrisburg Symphony, the Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra, the North Carolina Brass Band, and the Tony and Emmy award winning Broadway production of Blast!, where he was a featured soloist and member of their first national tour.
Ryan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Euphonium Performance from the University of North Texas, where he studied with Dr. Brian Bowman. He received several awards including the “Outstanding Undergraduate in Brass” award, and the Green Brigade “Bandsman of the Year.” Though his studies were primarily in classical and contemporary music, he took full advantage of the Jazz ensembles participating in the Big Bands, Combos, and the Latin Jazz ensemble. Outside of the University, he participated in music competitions placing 1st in the Leonard Falcone International Euphonium competition, the Young Texas Artists solo competition, and the Musical Merit Foundation of a Greater San Diego. He was also awarded a full scholarship to the Aspen Music Festival where he was a finalist in the concerto competition and had the privilege of studying with legendary tubist Abe Torchinsky.
Since 2014, Ryan has been pursuing a Master’s certificate in Advanced Professional Music Production and Technology from the Berklee College of Music online school. Through this program he has become well versed in Logic Pro, utilizing it for writing, recording, and producing music from his home studio. Ryan continues to hone his skills in electronic effects and composition and is always looking for new creative opportunities in which he can incorporate the euphonium.
Media
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