Ryan Youens

Ryan Youens is a freelance music composer, copyist and arranger based in Auckland, New Zealand.

Ryan holds both Bachelor of Music (first class honours) and Master of Music degrees (studying with Anthony Ritchie, Jack Body, John Psathas, Michael Norris and Lyell Cresswell), and has worked professionally in the industry since 2006.

Ryan's music has brought 50 performances and/or workshops, including by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra on five occasions, Sphaera Ensemble (Brazil), Gruppetto Quartet (Greece), Auckland Symphony Orchestra, Southern Sinfonia, Auckland Wind Orchestra, Southern Consort of Singers, Marama Chamber Orchestra and by Euphony (multi-award winning girls choir from Kristin School). He was awarded the SOUNZ Community Commission in 2009 to write a large 15-minute work for wind orchestra and choir comprising of 120 players, which premiered at the 2010 ERUPT Lake Taupo Festival with huge success.

As a copyist, Ryan is well regarded with over 70 credits, working for leading ensembles, composers and music organisations. As an arranger, his work for concerts, film and television have been well received, including string arrangements for Rhian Sheehan’s Qantas-award-winning score for TV2’s ‘The Cult’.

“Smoldering, bubbling, swelling and ultimately eruptive! Moana Ataahua (Beautiful Lake) by Ryan Youens embraces all that Taupo represents. The violent yet beautiful geological processes that have heaved up and carved out our part of the world are represented here in music. Thundering percussion, shrill woodwind, triumphant brass and lyrical, arching melodies in the choir unite to create a composition that leaves you breathless until the final thump. Written with an intimate understanding of how community music operates, Moana Ataahua is sure to release an eruption of pride in our town.”
- Justin Gibbs, conductor. Taupo, New Zealand.

“Ryan is certainly a talented composer and a delight to work with. He is very reliable considering that with my project he had a very short notice yet he did an amazing job. His artistic input added more strength to my film, Missing, and I am definitely looking forward to working with him in the future. I highly recommend him to anyone who is seeking a clever and capable composer.”
- Mojan Javadi, film director. Auckland, New Zealand.