James Ryon

James Ryon is professor emeritus of oboe, coordinator of woodwind chamber music, and lecturer in chamber music studies at the University of North Texas. He has served as principal oboist with the Baton Rouge Symphony, the Akron Symphony, the Caracas Philharmonic (Venezuela) and the Florida Orchestra (Tampa). His wide-ranging musical experience includes tours and concerts with the Pittsburgh Symphony, the Cleveland Opera, the Cleveland Ballet, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Ohio Ballet, the Canton Symphony, the Charleston Symphony, the Las Colinas Symphony (Texas), the Bach Aria Group (New York) and the British rock group Emerson, Lake and Palmer. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in music from the Juilliard School and a degree in engineering and applied science from Yale University. His training also includes fellowships to the Aspen, Tanglewood, Blossom, New College and Kneisel Hall festivals. He has taught for 15 years at the University of North Texas, eight years at Louisiana State University, five years at the University of South Florida and 19 years at the University of Akron, where he was a member of the Solaris Quintet. His recordings have been available on Musical Heritage, Jeanné Digital and Capstone Records.