 Previous teachers include Alexina Louie, Lothar Klein, Mariano Etkin, Boyd McDonald, and Owen Underhill.Since 1997, Ryan has been Composer Advisor for Music Toronto.He was an Affiliate Composer with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra from 2000 to 2002; he then served as the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra's Composer-in-Residence from 2002 to 2007, and continues as Composer Laureate of that ensemble.