Tony Ryan is a conductor, composer, educator, and reviewer. As a conductor he learnt his craft as repetiteur, chorus master and conductor for many organisations including Canterbury Opera where he was assistant to international guest conductors including Vanco Cavdarski, John Matheson, Martin Turnovsky and many others. Since then he has worked extensively as a conductor and composer for Court Theatre, the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, the Christchurch Youth Orchestra and others.
In addition to the Christchurch Schools’ Music Festival Orchestra, Tony is the conductor of Resonance Ensemble and the Christchurch School of Music Sinfonia. His compositions have frequently been performed and broadcast in New Zealand and abroad, most recently by Resonance Ensemble, the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, the Canterbury Philharmonia, and orchestras from the Christchurch School of Music. His Saxophone Concerto, with stellar saxophonist Alice Morgan, along with a brief Fanfare written in honour of New Zealand composer, John Ritchie, were featured in Resonance’s Matariki concert in June 2025.
As a teacher Tony led the performing arts at Linwood College for more than thirty years before spending several years working in Kenya and Singapore.
He also reviews and writes on matters of musical interest – check out his website here.