One of Canada's few saxophonists to specialize on the classical concert stage, Ryan Fraser is one of this country's most dynamic and charismatic performers. His accomplishments include a variety of performance awards, including a first place award in the 1995 Canadian Music Competitions and a prestigious Chalmer's Grant in 1996. He has performed across North America in wide variety of venues, both as a soloist and a chamber musician. An award–winning teacher, Fraser is a former lecturer at the University of Western Ontario, in London, Ontario, Canada. At Western, he also formerly co-ordinated the New Horizons Adult Band program. Among his other activities, he is an active school clinician, and is former artistic director of Trillium Plus New Music and Letters, a not–for–profit presenter of new Canadian music, visual arts and literature. Fraser's experience in working numerous children's music festivals, including faculty positions at the National Music Camp of Canada, the Kincardine Summer Music Festival, and Southampton Summer Music have helped to develop his skills as a clear orator, with special care given to audience interaction in all of his performances. Mr. Fraser has studied with James Kalyn, George VanOstrand, Willem Moolenbeek, Charles Bell, as well as the great virtuoso saxophonist Donald Sinta. Mr. Fraser holds the Master of Music from the University of Michigan, and the Bachelor of Music from the University of Western Ontario, where he was awarded the highest graduating award, a University Gold Medal. Ryan is a member of the American Federation of Musicians, as well as the Ontario Registered Music Teachers Association.