Ryan Whyman | Pianist and Composer

ryan whyman

welcome and happy belated birthday.

thank you for wandering in! I write music to laugh and cry, to tell stories, and to stay rooted. I hope it offers you the same. take a look around, and holler if you need anything!

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scoring

music and sound crafted for immersive storytelling.

Scene from Westworld - Rescore

Pretty classic car chase action scene. This was my submission for a film scoring contest by Spitfire. Hybrid electronic/ full orchestra.

RAT

This is a short film featuring Jonothan Lyons, who made a name for himself wandering around NYC dressed as a giant rat. Old Hollywood jazz vibes - an old upright piano is joined by a mournful trumpet at 0:48, light rhythm section and string orchestra at 2:05. Big flourish at 2:38 into a climax with soaring strings.

Acknowledgment of Services - End Credits

Directed by Kelton White. In this scene, the main character finally breaks down and cries for the first time, releasing what had been building up for the entire film. The music here underscores both the deep sadness that he carries, and a sense of relief and hope for the future. Instrumentation - cello, violin and viola played sul tasto, felted upright piano, acoustic guitar

Waiting for the End - Opening Scene

The backdrop of this film is the plight of the Uyghur people, who have been the victim of serious persecution by the Chinese Communist Party. In this scene, director Memetjan Semet wanted music that brings out the constant fear, anxiety, and grief Shirzat is carrying as he tries to move on with ordinary life, unsure of his family's safety back home in mainland China.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps - Rescore

From a cutscene in this popular video game, my re-score featuring full orchestra and choir that matches the beauty of these epic surroundings and the thrall of adventure as Ori flies atop Ku, the owl.

session work

a bit of background on my piano music ~ I've been playing for 28 years now; 18+ years of classical piano, and then jazz from college on. like many session players, I'm a great reader; but what sets me apart from many is my innate ability to improvise authentically in any genre. I have been doing this since I started playing piano at age 6, and my diverse array of musical influences and projects have all contributed to this gift. some recent significant performances/ recordings of interest include:

piano for Frankenstein live in Hollywood, with Alexandre Desplat

keyboard on HBO series Euphoria

piano on Renée Elise Goldsberry's debut album Who I Really Am.

piano/ Fender Rhodes for Oppenheimer Live at Royce Hall, with Ludwig Göransson

keyboard/ synth for Home Alone: Live to Picture with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra

keyboard for the 30th anniversary Lion King Live to Picture at the Hollywood Bowl

piano recorded on HBO series, The Sympathizer

keyboard for Les Miserables at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre

piano and celeste for Phill Boucher on the Fortnite soundtrack

keyboard for Seth Rogan Smokes the Bowl at the Hollywood Bowl

keyboard/ synth for Dutch National Ballet Frida at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion

keyboard for Shovel Knight Live at the Fonda Theater

piano recorded on Showtime's Penny Dreadful: City of Angels soundtrack

piano on League of Legends spinoff Teamfight Tactics

piano for the 2023 WWE Wrestlemania at SoFi Stadium

keyboard for the 2023 tour of Hairspray at the Dolby Theatre

guest harpsichord with the Riverside Philharmonic

celeste & piano on the 2022 motion picture soundtrack, Amsterdam

performing at D23 for Marvel's surprise reveal of Rogers: the Musical

piano/ keyboard for ABC's Little Mermaid: Live

about me

I think we'd all be better off without cell phones.
I love to cook (check out my food blog here.)
I believe that expressing creativity through music and art is simultaneously the most human and most Divine activity we can engage with.

many listeners have said that my music evokes imagery, memories, and deep emotions. I love well crafted melodies, harmonic variety, and eclectic textures. current inspirations include Jon Brion, Mark Mothersbaugh, Alexandre Desplat, Johnny Greenwood, and Ennio Morricone. also Hania Rani, Photay, Alabaster de Plume, Bibio, and Nils Frahm.

I compose for films and video games. I also write music to perform live with various ensembles I'll put together. as a pianist/ keyboardist, I enjoy playing classical repertoire, modern jazz, world folk music, and everything in between. and I especially love anything improvisational.

I was born at the tender age of 3 to parents who make occasional references to the "real parents in a different solar system." piano lessons began at age 6, and I discovered my love for composition and improvisation. since then, I've written for ensembles of all shapes and sizes - jazz big bands, chamber ensembles, epic orchestra + choir + pipe organ, and even... flute choir. as a keyboardist I've had the privilege of playing everything from Irish folk music to baroque harpsichord to heavy metal to R&B.
my son is 1,438 days old (as of this writing) and is currently building sculptures with marshmallows and toothpicks while discussing the presence of caterpillars on Noah's Ark.

music