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Ryan Heinlein Assistant Professor, Music

Director of Instrumental Activities

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Ryan Heinlein recently completed his Doctorate of Musical Arts at the Conservatory of Music and Dance at The University of Missouri- Kansas City. He received his bachelors and masters degree in trombone performance from Wichita State University. He began playing trombone at the age of eleven and has been playing professionally since the age of fifteen.

As a performer, Ryan is known as one of the most versatile trombonists in the Kansas City area and has quickly become a first call musician for all genres. He has performed with The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra, The Northland Symphony, Michael Feinstein, the Tommy Dorsey orchestra, the Harry James orchestra, The Four Tops, The Temptations, The Buckinghams and can be seen playing with area rock, reggae, R&B and hip hop acts. Ryan has studied with Russ Widener, JoDee Davis, Paul McKee and Steve Dekker.

As a composer, Ryan’s main focus is The Project H, a seven piece fusion group playing all original music that can be seen at area jazz clubs, bars and coffee shops. The group recently won the Pitch Music award for “Best Jazz Ensemble.” Ryan has also written and arranged music for area high schools, colleges, and professional groups.

As an educator, Ryan is the former professor of music education and director of athletic and concert bands at Ottawa University. He has held adjunct music instructor positions at Butler Community College, Avila University and Friends University. He has been an adjudicator for the Wichita Jazz Festival, the Washburn Jazz Festival, the Mid-Kansas symphonic festival and the Goddard Festival of Bands marching competition.