With over 2 decades of experience, Ryan Oliver is a noted music educator on the Canadian music landscape. Sharing knowledge gleaned from years of experience on the bandstand and around many of his heroes in jazz music during his time in Amsterdam, New York City and Toronto, Oliver believes in the “pass it on” approach to music education. Oliver’s supportive and practical approach helps students to make improvements through actionable guidance. He has a Masters Degree in Music from Rutgers University and currently teaches saxophone for Camosun College and the Victoria Conservatory of Music where he leads the Metro Big Band comprised of some of the top level high school and college level players in Victoria. He also runs the Grade 6-8 concert and jazz bands at Cathedral School and has given clinics throughout the world to students ranging from beginners to advanced University level musicians. 

Oliver has been an Artist in Residence for summer music camps, taught band clinics to students in the United States, Aruba, El Salvador, India, Guatemala and Panama for the federal government’s Canada150 celebration initiatives, and was part of the Art Starts Artist in the Classroom series in Victoria, Prince Rupert and Haida Gwaii, leading workshops and concerts for elementary and high schools. Oliver has worked as a high school band adjudicator for the West Coast Jazz Festival, Victoria Music Festival, Victoria Grade 6 Music Festival and Powell River Jazz Festival and as a clinician for the BC Music Educator’s Conference (BCMEA) and numerous Universities and schools throughout the world.