Dueling Father-Son Piano Duo Play to Inspire
Ryan & Ryan played in Stem Hall in the Ogle Center on Friday, Nov. 4 at 7:30 p.m.
Ryan & Ryan, the father-son piano duo out of Tulsa, Oklahoma, take turns dueling each other before the audience.
Barron Ryan, the son of the father-son duo, tries to one up his father in their mix of classical and contemporary piano arrangements.
Barron’s father, Donald Ryan, sits with arms crossed as Barron pounds away at his piano.
It’s Donald’s turn to counter Barron in their father-son piano duel.
The pair go back and forth mixing their arrangements to create something all their own.
Donald, a native of Trinidad, came to the United States to study music at Oral Roberts University and The University Of Tulsa. He resides in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he continues to produce new music and is on the music faculty of ORU.
Barron grew up inspired by his father’s music, following in his footsteps from an early age.
In between playing the piano, Barron speaks to the audience about their life and music.
As a surprise, Barron brings out a drum set and plays along with his father during a jazz arrangement. Not only is Barron a pianist, he is also a trained jazz drummer.
Donald was inducted into the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame in 2006 and was a recipient of the Madeyska Award at the 1975 9th International Chopin Competition in Warsaw, Poland.
Donald and Barron first began playing together when Barron was in high school but didn’t start playing together professionally until after he graduated from college.
Barron, having played from the age of four, graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2009 with a degree in music.
Donald and Barron blend classic and contemporary music to create what they call “Music That Inspires.”
Taking turns bowing to the audience, Donald and Barron play to the audiences applause.
Barron doesn’t miss the opportunity to try and one up his father.
A surprise encore brings the pair back out to the stage, this time taking turns attempting to one up each other.
Barron takes a selfie as his father plays away.
Barron, not to be outdone, pushes his father off the seat to play one last time.
Round and round they go, Donald wipes the sweat from his face during their exchange of music.
Ryan and Ryan taking their final bow before a standing ovation.
November 5, 2016
A duel took place in the Ogle Center Friday night – not with swords but with music.
Ryan & Ryan, the father and son piano duo out of Tulsa, Oklahoma, performed in Stem Hall on Friday, Nov. 4 at 7:30 p.m.
Donald and Barron Ryan, the father and son duo, blend classic and contemporary music to create, as they call it, “Music That Inspires.”
The pair perform music ranging from classically inspired tunes to jazz and ragtime.
Donald, a native of Trinidad, said he came to America to study music. According to the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame, which he was inducted into in 2006, Donald was a recipient of the Madeyska Award at the 1975 9th International Chopin Competition in Warsaw, Poland.
Barron said he grew up inspired by his father’s music and, from the age of four on, followed in his footsteps.
“I would see him playing his own arrangements of new tunes that I already knew,” Barron said. “He would write for himself and I thought, okay I need to do some of this too.”
Barron said they first played together when he was in high school but they didn’t start playing together professionally until after he graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2009.
Now they play together in their joint Ryan & Ryan piano duo, traveling together to bring “Music That Inspires.”
