Ryan Dakota Farris
Assistant Conductor
Ryan Dakota Farris is quickly becoming one of the most exciting and in-demand conductors in the Pacific Northwest. Highlights from the past year include guest conducting appearances with the Bainbridge Symphony, Issaquah Philharmonic, and Octava Chamber Orchestra, plus his recent appointment as assistant conductor of the Lake Union Civic Orchestra. Ryan is currently pursuing his doctorate in Orchestral Conducting at the University of Washington where he serves as conductor of the Campus Philharmonia and assistant conductor of the University of Washington Symphony. In recent years he has worked as cover conductor for professional orchestras across the country, including the Auburn Symphony in Washington state and the Boulder Philharmonic in Colorado. He has also served as an assistant conductor for Colorado MahlerFest and Greater Boulder Youth Orchestras, and as a sectional conductor for Seattle’s Harmonia Orchestra & Chorus.
Ryan was a proud student of the late maestro Michael Jinbo at the Pierre Monteux School and Music Festival in Maine for five summers. He has also studied with many notable conductors including Ludovic Morlot, David Rahbee, Gary Lewis, Nicholas Carthy, Donald Schleicher, Kensho Watanabe, Kirk Trevor, and Tiffany Lu.
Ryan has performed as principal cellist with the Boulder Opera Company, Seattle Philharmonic Strings, and the University of Washington Symphony. He appeared as a featured soloist with the South Puget Sound College Orchestra in 2019, and regularly performs in chamber music groups across the region. Before moving to Seattle, he played regularly with some of Colorado’s best orchestras, including the Boulder Philharmonic, Fort Collins Symphony, and Colorado MahlerFest. Ryan also composes his own music, performs on viola da gamba with the UW Baroque Ensemble, and busts out the traditional Irish fiddle with acclaimed Seattle-based Celtic band Cavort.
Ryan was a proud student of the late maestro Michael Jinbo at the Pierre Monteux School and Music Festival in Maine for five summers. He has also studied with many notable conductors including Ludovic Morlot, David Rahbee, Gary Lewis, Nicholas Carthy, Donald Schleicher, Kensho Watanabe, Kirk Trevor, and Tiffany Lu.
Ryan has performed as principal cellist with the Boulder Opera Company, Seattle Philharmonic Strings, and the University of Washington Symphony. He appeared as a featured soloist with the South Puget Sound College Orchestra in 2019, and regularly performs in chamber music groups across the region. Before moving to Seattle, he played regularly with some of Colorado’s best orchestras, including the Boulder Philharmonic, Fort Collins Symphony, and Colorado MahlerFest. Ryan also composes his own music, performs on viola da gamba with the UW Baroque Ensemble, and busts out the traditional Irish fiddle with acclaimed Seattle-based Celtic band Cavort.
