Ryan and Ryan Piano Duo

The Intercultural Music Initiative (IMI) will present the Ryan and Ryan Piano Duo for the final concert in its 2023-2024 season. This dynamic father-son piano duo blends classic and contemporary music into an enthralling concert experience. From Rachmaninoff to Gershwin to Billy Joel, Donald and Barron Ryan combine their talents to create a dazzling blend of old and new schools. The concert will take place on Monday April 22, at 7:30 pm at Parkway Baptist Church.

A native of Trinidad & Tobago, Donald came to the United States to study music, earning degrees from Oral Roberts University and the University of Tulsa. He is well known as a master of diverse styles—evidenced by a diploma from the 9th International Chopin Competition as well as his induction into the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame. Donald has also earned the distinction of being among the most accomplished pianists in the world as a Steinway Artist.

Given his father’s profession, Barron’s choice of playing the piano is no surprise, and he has been no stranger to the stage since the age of four. He distinguished himself in piano studies at the University of Oklahoma and has been a featured soloist at the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame and the Tulsa Performing Arts Center, among many other venues. Barron has also been a prizewinner in numerous piano competitions, including the Oklahoma Israel Exchange Young Artists Competition in 2011.

As a performing team, Donald and Barron amaze audiences with their skill, expressiveness and love for music making together. Well versed in classical, jazz, Ragtime and funk, they create exciting new music and give freshness to beloved standards. Audiences everywhere have been thrilled by their renditions of selections from Grusin’s The Firm soundtrack as well as Rachmaninoff’s Second Suite for Two Pianos. George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue consistently garners rave reviews and enthusiastic standing ovations. Ryan & Ryan is a proven hit with audiences of all generations. Their inventiveness and infectious joy for life resonates with patrons long after the final curtain falls. To sum it up, they make music that inspires.

Intercultural Music Initiative (IMI) has its roots in St. Louis since 1994 with a programming mission always rooted in promoting cultural diversity. The IMI Concert Series integrates new and unfamiliar musical works into the existing performance repertoire and partners with a growing community of interculturally minded artists and educators from around the globe. Our local ensemble, IMI Chamber Players, has a mixed instrumentation which regularly features on the Intercultural Music Initiative Concert Series in St. Louis and in performances across the U.S. and internationally. IMI-featured musicians are known for their passion for performing chamber music by lesser-known composers, particularly those of African descent and other racial minorities.