Testimonals:

Ryan Wilk demonstrates an in-depth knowledge of composition and music. With some iterations to some well known classical pieces, as well as, establishing his own musicality, Ryan has showcased his ability to compose in different styles with great execution. Ryan’s “Allegro in A Major” reminds me of a classical piece I may have played at one point in time. The piece is quite fluid and has great movement (flow) throughout the composition. It feels as if the piece was composed hundreds of years ago, which gives insight into his creative process and music he listened to for his inspiration.  For someone at his age, the work and thought put into his compositions is remarkable.

Additionally, the Preludes he composed were a delight. Each of them were vastly different and yet still, he obtained the overall feeling of a "prelude" from each. This indicates how versatile Ryan is with his composition. His “Variations on Germany” is a perfect example of his versatility. As a musician and composer myself, I was looking forward to each of the variations he wrote and all of them were unique, impressive and satisfying to the ear. Ryan shows a great deal of talent and potential as a composer. He is well equipped for this field and I am very much looking forward to what the future has in store for him.

-Ryan Crout, music director & pianist - 2022

I have known Ryan since I started at Space of Mind in August. In the relatively short time I've known him, I've come to know an individual whose passion and drive for music is unquenchable. With his primary focus as composition, I assigned to him the composition of a string quartet. When he completed this assignment in a time frame that surprised me, I then began to explore composition in the context of Debussy. He then composed a prelude which was so thorough and complete, I believe any pianist at a concert level would enjoy learning. In the time beyond these initial assignments, Ryan has written additional piano preludes with varying compositional styles but strong in melody, rhythm, form, and harmony. In addition, his imagination reaches far beyond traditional composition into the realm of electronic and ambient music. At Ryan's young age, the only aspect missing is the experience that comes with decades of refinement.

-Nick Rosen, pianist - 2022

Ryan is strongly committed to his academic success. He will do everything he can to ensure his work meets or exceeds standards and expectations. His writing and communication style is unique, genuine and deeply insightful. He applies this skill to support how he processes new information and his view of the world. His commitment to always doing his best applies inside and outside of the classroom. I’ve observed Ryan excel through his internship opportunities by going above and beyond the expectations.

Ryan is intune with his creativity in fascinating and ethereal ways. For the typical person, creativity comes, goes and arrives at unexpected moments. However, Ryan has the ability to produce fine art at any given moment. He takes his craft seriously and is always looking to improve his ability to create works of grandeur. He is not afraid to experiment with different types of art, but his passion is in the realm of music. His talent extends across multiple instruments, genres and areas of theoretical knowledge. He is a true academic in this field, and I have no doubt he will provide a valuable asset to the future of music.

-Hunter Isbell, music educator - 2022