A native of Springfield, Virginia, Ryan Adamsons is currently based in Chicago where he is an active performer, composer, and educator. Ryan's drum corps experience includes five years as a marching member of the Bluecoats from 1998 to 2002 where he was a section leader, soloist, and horn sergeant, followed by six years on the brass staff as the mellophone instructor from 2003 to 2008 before rejoining the staff in 2011. In addition to his instructional duties he arranged various encore tunes, helped develop the technique book, and helped design and develop the Hammond Design mellophone mouthpieces currently used throughout the activity.

Ryan has received Bachelor of Science Degrees in Jazz Studies and Brass Performance from the University of Akron, and also graduated with distinction from DePaul University in Chicago with a Masters of Music concentrating in Jazz Composition. He is currently the Marching Band Coordinator and Director of Jazz Studies for Niles West High School in Skokie, Illinois, and has taught numerous groups in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Virginia, Tennessee, Texas, and Japan. He has performed and written for the Chicago Jazz Orchestra, the Tom Matta Big Band, the Chicago Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble, Daphne Willis, Nootka Sound, and numerous other groups including his own 12-piece group the Ryan Erik Adamsons Medium Ensemble. Ryan is also proud to be the Chairperson of the Jazz Education Network JENerations Committee, a group aimed at fostering young jazz musicians, composers, and educators. He plays Powell Signature Trumpets and Hammond Design mouthpieces exclusively.

Ryan is excited and honored to join the staff of the Santa Clara Vanguard, and looks forward to using his own experience to further the storied tradition of this great organization.