Ryan Whyman

Since the beginning of Ryan Whyman’s musical journey at age six, it has been obvious that he has a unique musical gift. Since performing his first composition for his second-grade classmates, he has yet to stop touching people’s hearts with original music inspired by diverse styles and traditions. Whyman’s imaginative and emotionally compelling compositions and orchestrations left one audience member so moved after a performance he gold Ryan that listening to them, “Makes me want to be a better nurse.”

Whyman’s award-winning musical projects have ranged from the Whyman Project, a chamber jazz ensemble which he himself performed in, to compositions for choir and orchestra to a collaboration with internationally renowned rapper, poet and spoken word artist Watsky. These varied ensembles give a sense of the many influences that make Whyman’s art so special; though it blends many genres, his musical voice is the common thread that weaves his repertoire into a connected whole.

Megan Shung

Often described as ‘the 21st Century violinist’, Megan Shung is a Grammy-nominated international violinist, composer, speaker, and educator based in Los Angeles, California. She is adept at non-traditional performance practices and styles including jazz, pop/rock, experimental music, and has performed/recorded with artists including Anthony Kiedis, Michael Bublé, Jhene Aiko,Kimbra, George Watsky, Billy Childs, and Louis Cole.

In addition to being an active performer, Megan is also a passionate educator. She is an active SAA member and a Suzuki/jazz faculty at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music. Her primary mission as an educator is to create a strong technical foundation for her students to be able to foster creativity and experimentation beyond the boundaries of ordinary musicianship. She has taught as a guest clinician at several institutes in the USA and internationally with a specialty in teaching improvisation to string players.

Megan developed a love of performance from a young age; writing, producing, and directing her first play at the age of 9 led her to nurture a deep appreciation for the theatre and a musician’s role within it. Notable appearances include The Fiddler in a local production of Steve Martin’s “Bright Star”, 2018 production of “Love Actually: LIVE” as Judy at the Wallis Annenberg, Disney Channel’s “Bunk’d” S2, E12: “Food Fight” as Svetlana, original multimedia theater show “Ded!” inspired by the Day of the Dead tradition at the Matrix Theater, and Disney Channel’s “Suite Life of Zack and Cody” S3, E14: “Orchestra”.

Megan was born in Houston, Texas (USA), grew up in Taipei, Taiwan. Her musical studies began with her mother at the age of 3 on the piano and started taking violin lessons at the age of 9. In 2001, her family immigrated to Los Angeles, California for a better education. She attended the LA County High School for the Arts, graduated with academic honors, then continued her education at the Cleveland Institute of Music where she earned a Bachelor of Music in violin performance with academic honors studying under David Updegraff. While at CIM, she received her long-term Suzuki training with Kimberly Meier-Sims. Upon graduation, she continued her studies with Paul Kantor in Houston, Texas. Additional Suzuki training by Ed Sprunger, Ann Montzka-Smelser, Liz Arbus, and Sarah Montzka. Past mentors include Richard Schwabe and Henry Gronnier at the Colburn School of Performing Arts. Other notable awards include the Dr. Jerome D. Gross Prize in Violin from the Cleveland Institute of Music in 2011 and the 2008 Ambassador Scholarship from the International House of Blues Foundation.