“The bow drives across the strings, thick and throaty, creating a pulsing sound that feels more of muscle than tendon…a compositional sophistication that is cinematic, transporting, and tantalizingly modern”, wrote The Boston Globe. Ryan McKasson has gained a reputation as a performer, composer, collaborator, and teacher. In 1996, he was the youngest person to win the National Scottish Fiddle Championship.
While studying at USC, he co-founded the Southern California based contra dance band, Syncopaths with Jeff Spero and Christa Burch, and later joined by Ashley Broder. Ryan co-founded The McKassons, with his sister, Cali McKasson, and wife, Brooke McKasson, and her brother, Matt Jerrell. Ryan has also been a member of a baroque/celtic/fusion combo, Ensemble Galilei. In 2016 Ryan began playing with guitarist and singer Eric McDonald. They recorded Harbour in 2017 and were joined by Jeremiah McLane for that album. In 2019 Ryan, Eric and Jeremiah founded trio together named Kalos. They are currently working on a new album together that will be coming out in summer 2020.
Ryan has taught at fiddle camps around the US and New Zealand, most notably: Boston Harbor Scottish Fiddling School, Southern Hemisphere International School of Scottish Fiddle, Valley of the Moon Scottish Fiddling School, Festival of American Fiddle Tunes, Rocky Mountain Fiddle Camp, Swannanoa Gathering, and Lark Camp.