Ryan Murray, Principal Pops Conductor

Ryan Murray

Principal Pops Conductor

American conductor Ryan Murray has found steady acclaim as a compelling, dynamic and unflappable presence on the podium. Ryan is currently Principal Pops Conductor for the Modesto Symphony, Music Director of the Auburn Symphony, and Artistic Director of Music in the Mountains. An award-winning opera conductor, Ryan spent his early career working as an assistant conductor and répétiteur, and is currently the Music Director of Opera Modesto. He has served as an assistant conductor at the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera, is the past Music Director of Fresno Grand Opera, and previously worked as a staff conductor for the Bay Area Summer Opera Theater Institute (BASOTI) and The Opera Academy of California in San Francisco. Effortlessly moving between genres, Ryan currently enjoys a wide range of performance genres & platforms, including traditional orchestral and operatic repertoire, pops performances, movies in concert, and a notable emphasis on contemporary American operatic works.

Ryan was the winner of the Vienna Philharmonic’s prestigious Ansbacher Fellowship for Young Conductors, and spent the summer in residence alongside the Vienna Philharmonic at the 2014 Salzburg Festival. Ryan was also awarded second place in the 2019 American Prize for Professional Orchestral Conducting for his work with the Modesto Symphony, and has garnered national recognition for his dynamic, compelling performances of contemporary opera as the winner of the 2017 American Prize in Opera Conducting for his highly lauded production of A Streetcar Named Desire. He was a 2016 semi-finalist for the Ernst Bacon Memorial Award for the Performance of American Music for his production of Jake Heggie's Dead Man Walking.

A charismatic pops conductor, Ryan has worked with prominent artists such as Storm Large of Pink Martini, SuperDiamond and the phenomenal symphonic tribute to David Bowie. He was recently engaged to step-in at the last minute as assistant and cover conductor for Andrea Bocelli's Believe Tour with the Sacramento Philharmonic where he conducted rehearsals to acclaim. He has led some of the top vocalists from Broadway and beyond, including Ben Crawford (Broadway's The Phantom of the Opera), Ashley Brown (Broadway's Mary Poppins), and Alli Mauzey (Glinda from Wicked), as well as some of today's top young jazz vocalists including Tony DeSare and James Tormé. With an enthusiasm for film scores, Ryan enjoys the unique challenges of conducting movies in concert and was recently added the the Disney & ICM Approved Conductors list. Recent and upcoming performances include Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Pixar Animation Studios' Pixar in Concert, Star Wars: A New Hope and Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.

Ryan holds degrees, summa cum laude, in Bassoon Performance and Voice Performance from California State University, Sacramento and also holds a master’s degree, with distinction, in Music Business from the Berklee College of Music where he studied with industry professionals to develop tools for success in the modern music industry, including new technology, policy, law and finance. Ryan has a strong commitment to education and currently serves as the Director of Symphony Orchestra & Opera at California State University, Sacramento, and as the conductor for the Sacramento Youth Symphony's premier orchestra. Driven by a lifelong passion for learning, Ryan has attended conducting masterclasses and seminars around the world. Ryan recently conducted the Romanian Chamber Orchestra in concert and was one of just eight conductors worldwide to be invited to the Musiikin aika Summer Festival Masterclass in Finland led by Susanna Mälkki. He has previously attended the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music's Conductors Workshop; the contemporary music symposium led by Alan Gilbert featuring the New York Philharmonic; the Aurora Chamber Festival in Sweden, where he studied under Maestro Kurt Masur; the Lucerne Festival Academy’s Conducting Masterclass in Switzerland; and the Eastman School of Music’s Summer Conducting Institute. Widely praised for his tireless work ethic, natural poise, and impassioned, inspired performances, Ryan continues to connect deeply with orchestras and audiences alike, and has proven to be a formidable presence on the podium.

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Upcoming Concerts

Terron Brooks, guest vocalist

TERRON BROOKS is a singer-songwriter, recording artist, actor, motivational speaker, author and producer who has credits from the Broadway stage, Simba in Disney’s The Lion King and Seaweed in Hairspray, to the television screen’s Curb Your Enthusiasm, American Idol, The Voice, and The Ellen DeGenerous Show. Based in Los Angeles, Terron has had the great opportunity to perform at The Ahmanson(The Secret Garden), The Pantages (The Lion King, Hairspray) and The Hollywood Bowl(Kinky Boots). Mr. Brooks has traveled the country with Disney in Concert Symphony Orchestra. He’s best remembered for his critically acclaimed portrayal of Eddie Kendricks in the Emmy Award winning NBC miniseries The Temptations. He is a two time NAACP image award nominee for best supporting actor and an Ovation nominee for best featured actor. Terron has sung with world class artists Stevie Wonder, David Foster, Phil Collins, One Republic, and Smokey Robinson. He is the co-creator and star of The Soul of Broadway, reimagining classic Broadway favorites, and has produced, written and recorded his own records available digitally everywhere. Terron’s first book Something GoOD on the Table is featured on Amazon.com

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Website: https://www.terronbrooksofficial.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/terronbrooks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terronbrooks/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/tempteddie

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Upcoming Performances

Shayna Steele, guest vocalist

Dynamic vocalist Shayna Steele puts new meaning to musical diversity and grass-roots talent. With Shayna’s effortless execution of a multitude of genres from soul to blues and jazz and rock and roll, it’s no surprise that she is one of the most in-demand singers in the industry today!

In 2023 Shayna debuted her solo symphony show, American Diva, with the prestigious Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, featuring orchestral arrangements of her original music and favorite covers by Grammy-winning conductor and composer Jeff Tyzik. Shayna has performed as the guest soloist with over 40 North American symphony orchestras including Dallas, Nashville, Detroit, Oregon, St. Louis, Fort Worth, Utah, Omaha, Hawaii, Milwaukee, Grand Rapids, Pittsburgh, Reno, Buffalo, Vancouver, Florida, Tucson, Augusta, Long Beach, Louisville, Virginia, Sarasota, Santa Barbara, North Carolina and the list goes on and on.

Throughout her career, Shayna has lent her talent to leading artists such as Grammy-winning trumpeter, Chris Botti and Moby, whose tracks Raining Again, Disco Lies, and Extreme Ways, featured Shayna’s blockbuster vocals. Snarky Puppy’s Michael League handpicked Shayna’s original track, Gone Under, for inclusion in their huge hit, Family Dinner, Volume 1 album (Ropeadope Records) which has become a viral sensation with over 2 million views and countless covers from musicians globally. And no stranger to both the small and silver screens, Shayna has sung on the Hairspray, the Bourne Identity, and Sex and the City 2 soundtracks, as well as making a guest appearance on The Sopranos!

After spending her early years living mainly in Germany as the daughter of an Air Force master sergeant, Shayna spent her teen years in Biloxi, Mississippi, where she honed her musical theater and vocal talent. Her appearance on Star Search with Ed McMahon provided a bigger spotlight for her and, after leaving college, found herself in New York City appearing in the smash hit musical, RENT, as well as Jesus Christ Superstar, and then her original role in the massive Tony Awarding winning musical, Hairspray!

She then moved out on her own, providing background vocals for Bette Midler, Rihanna, and Kelly Clarkson, and appeared with countless A list stars. After going solo, writing, and putting her band together, Shayna released her album, RISE, in 2015 (Ropeadope Records), reaching #2 on the U.S. iTunes jazz charts. Shayna has done the work with her dynamic voice breathing life into what has become Gold Dust, her fourth studio album released in 2023.

"My new work reflects my connection with my daughter, social justice, coming up from the ashes (post Covid) and newfound freedom from isolation. The darkness did not swallow me whole, and I’m grateful to be back."-

Gold Dust on Ropeadope Records was released April 2023 and is available on all streaming platforms, CD and vinyl.

Visit www.shaynasteele.com

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Website: http://www.shaynasteele.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shaynasteelemusic

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shaynasteele

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@ShaynaSteeleChannel?si=BEk56NKSEz-1fk_h

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Upcoming Performances

Chester Gregory, guest vocalist

Chester Gregory is an award winning singer and actor. He was last seen starring in Motown The Musical as the iconic Berry Gordy. Broadway credits include Motown the Musical, Hairspray, Tarzan, Cry-Baby and Sister Act. Other credits include August Wilson's Fences and Two Trains Running. He has toured nationally with Dreamgirls, Sister Act, as well as his one-man show The Eve of Jackie Wilson. Chester has received many awards, including the Jeff Award and a NAACP Theatre Award, and has been presented the key to the city of his hometown of Gary, Indiana and in East Chicago. He has also been chosen as an Honorary State Representative of Indiana and has received a Honorary Doctorate from his alma mater Columbia College Chicago. He is currently producing several projects and recordings. Add him on social media @ChesterGregory and chestergregory.com

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Website: https://www.chestergregory.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100050689170301

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chestergregory

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@OFFICIALCHESS

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Upcoming Performances

Darryl Williams, guest vocalist

Darryl Jovan Williams is the Gold Medalist of the Americans Traditions Savannah Onstage International Soloist Competition. It was this competition that earned Williams a Gold Medal, a Ten Thousand Dollar Grand Prize, and an offer to sing for the Yachting Event for the 1996 Summer Olympics.

Darryl is a celebrated artist around the world. Darryl was invited to tour Eastern Europe as the Choir Director and guest soloist by the late Mr. Michael Brenner, one of Germany’s elite promoters, in the European Tour of Queen Esther Marrow and The Harlem Gospel Singers. His vocal prowess gained him rave reviews and won him the opportunity to perform for Pope (now Saint) John Paul II in Bologna, Italy.

Mr. Williams has toured extensively in the Broadway hit Smokey Joe’s Cafe with the legendary Gladys Knight and was a fixture at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Darryl has also created background vocals and sung background for artists such as Gladys Knight, Leslie Gore, Ann Nesby, Louis St. Louis, and Emmy Award winner Dave Pierce and most recently Michael Bublé. His performance and background vocals with Leslie Gore at Fienstein’s was lauded as one of the Top Ten Cabaret Shows in 2009.

A frequent soloist with symphony orchestras, Darryl’s recent and upcoming engagements include performances with Houston Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Utah Symphony, Chicago Philharmonic, Louisville Orchestra, Allentown Symphony, Chautauqua Symphony, among others.

Darryl has recently been the co-music arranger and vocal arranger for Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber. He was also the vocal arranger for the much-anticipated hit Jesus Christ Superstar Gospel, which won him rave reviews for his portrayal as Judas. Williams was recently a semi-finalist at the world-famous Apollo Theatre. He was most recently seen as the lead in Passing Strange and in a one man show written for him by Broadway legend Mr. Timothy Graphenreed. He is presently touring the world in his own show, The Mind of a Tenor, which has toured on Cruise ships and most recently South Africa.

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Website: https://www.darryljwilliams.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DarrylJSings/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DarrylJWilliams/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClPjfCf-q_hf366EMbreKyQ

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Upcoming Performances

Capathia Jenkins, guest vocalist

The Brooklyn-born and raised singer/actor, Capathia Jenkins, premiered her new show, She’s Got Soul, with the Houston Symphony in October 2022, with upcoming performances including Cleveland Orchestra, Seattle Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Utah Symphony, Colorado Springs Philharmonic, Asheville Symphony, Arkansas Symphony, Tucson Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, Calgary Philharmonic, among others.

Ms. Jenkins starred as ‘Medda’ in the hit Disney production of Newsies on Broadway. She made her Broadway debut in The Civil War, where she created the role of Harriet Jackson. She then starred in the Off-Broadway 2000 revival of Godspell, where she wowed audiences with her stirring rendition of ‘Turn Back, O Man’ which can still be heard on the original cast recording. She returned to Broadway in The Look of Love and was critically acclaimed for her performances of the Bacharach/David hits. Ms. Jenkins then created the roles of ‘The Washing Machine’ in Caroline, Or Change and ‘Frieda May’ in Martin Short-Fame Becomes Me where she sang ‘Stop the Show’ and brought the house down every night. In 2007 she went back to Off-Broadway and starred in (mis) Understanding Mammy-The Hattie McDaniel Story for which she was nominated for a Drama Desk Award. She was also seen in Nora Ephron’s Love, Loss, and What I Wore.

An active concert artist, Ms. Jenkins has appeared with numerous orchestras around the world including the Cleveland Orchestra, Houston Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony (with Marvin Hamlisch), National Symphony, Cincinnati Pops (with John Morris Russell), Philly Pops, San Francisco Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Utah Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Toronto Symphony, San Diego Symphony, the Hong Kong Philharmonic, and many others. She was also a soloist with the Festival Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic multiple times. Capathia had the great honor of performing in the ‘Broadway Ambassadors to Cuba’ concert as part of the Festival De Teatro De La Habana. She will be returning to Carnegie Hall with the New York Pops for Get Happy: That Nelson Riddle Sound and also sang in a Tribute to Marvin Hamlisch at the Library of Congress.

Her Television credits include 30 Rock, the Practice, Law & Order SVU, the Sopranos, Law & Order, as well as on her critically acclaimed CD Phenomenal Woman with Louis Rosen and her most recent single, ‘I am Strong’. She can be seen in the film ‘Musical Chairs’ directed by Susan Seidelman. Ms. Jenkins was also seen in The Wiz in a live performance on NBC. She can be heard on the following film soundtracks: Nine, Chicago, Legally Blonde 2.

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Website: www.capathiajenkins.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/capathianyc

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/capathianyc/

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Upcoming Performances

Michael Cavanaugh, vocalist

Michael Cavanaugh at Picnic at the Pops, 2010

Michael Cavanaugh is the new voice of the American Rock & Roll Songbook and a charismatic performer and musician made famous for his piano/lead vocals in the Broadway musical Movin’ Out. Handpicked by Billy Joel to star in Movin’ Out, Cavanaugh evokes a style rivaling the Piano Man. He appeared in the show for three years with over 1,200 performances and received multiple accolades. The show culminated in 2003 with both Grammy and Tony award nominations.

Michael began playing at age seven, when his parents bought their first piano.  Encouraged by family and friends, and inspired by his hero Billy Joel, Michael formed his first band at age 10 and began playing local functions, fine-tuning the craft that would become his chosen career. His first full-time gig as a musician was an extended engagement in Orlando, Florida, at a piano bar called Blazing Pianos. In January of 1999, Michael received an offer that would unknowingly change his life: an opportunity to play Las Vegas at the famed New York, New York Hotel and Casino. It was there that Billy Joel spotted Michael and joined him on stage one fateful night of February 2001.  It only took two songs before Billy was convinced that he had found his new Piano Man: Michael Cavanaugh. Michael closed up shop at New York, New York and moved to New York City to work alongside Billy Joel and Twyla Tharp to shape the Broadway Musical that would be called Movin’ Out.  In the lead role, he received both Tony and Grammy nominations.

With the close of Movin’ Out at the end of 2005, Michael began touring in his own right, creating a show that reinterprets the modern pop/rock songbook. Michael soon became one of the hottest artists in the private events market, and he continues to perform worldwide for company and charity events as well as sporting events including many PGA tour events, the SuperBowl, and the Indy 500.  His interpretation of the modern rock/pop songbook led to Billboard calling him “The New Voice of the American Rock and Roll Songbook,” and he was recognized by Reuters as Entertainer of the Year for the private events market.

It wasn’t long before symphony orchestras discovered Michael’s talents and audience appeal. He accepted his first orchestral booking, “Michael Cavanaugh – The Songs of Billy Joel and More,” which debuted in April 2008 with the Indianapolis Symphony and continues to tour today.  In October 2008, he signed with Warner/ADA to distribute his first CD, In Color.  In June 2010, Michael debuted his second symphony show in the Generations of Rock series titled “Michael Cavanaugh: The Songs of Elton John and More” and then debuted his third symphony show, “Singers and Songwriters: the Music of Paul Simon, Neil Diamond and James Taylor,” in 2012.  In 2015, he debuted his fourth symphony show: “Rockin’ Christmas with the Pops.”  He continues to tour all four symphony productions along with performing with his band in performing arts centers and other public venues.

“The Way I Hear It”, his second commercial album, was released in April 2017, and it debuted at #17 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart.

In 2020, Michael Cavanaugh reached the POLLSTAR Live75.  The top 75 active touring acts in the country.

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Website: https://michaelcavanaugh.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CavMusic?ref=hl

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cavanaugh_music/

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Upcoming Performances