Ryan Youens is a composer, arranger, orchestrator and copyist with over sixteen years experience collaborating with ensembles, artists, publishers, composers and producers on projects including live concerts and events, film and television scores, studio recordings, theatre and stage productions. He trained at New Zealand School of Music Te Kōkī, University of Otago and University of Auckland, and is based in Auckland, New Zealand.
Current projects include arranging the charts for Peter Shaffer’s ‘Amadeus’ at the Sydney Opera House with The Metropolitan Orchestra- this production received 33 performances all with standing ovations, arranging and writing additional music for Whakapaupākihi - a new te reo Māori musical, collaborating with Felix Buxton (Basement Jaxx) on the development of a new large-scale work, writing an INXS show for the Perth Symphony Orchestra and writing string arrangements for Greg Gould’s debut original album.
Other notable projects include preparing the charts for Neil Finn and the Sydney Symphony to perform at the Sydney Opera House, for Tane Upjohn-Beatson’s sound design for Beijing’s new Museum of Traditional Medicine, for Victoria Kelly’s soundtrack to the 2011 Rugby World Cup opening ceremony, for Alien Weaponry and Ria Hall collaborations with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and Tami Neilson’s collaboration with the Auckland Philharmonia, for Van Dyke Parks’s arrangement of ‘Just Sleep’ by Lawrence Arabia, and Rhian Sheehan’s score for the ‘Mission Ferrari’ roller coaster at Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi. Collaborations with Sheehan span many years and include work on three solo albums as well as numerous films, TV series and live shows.
Film credits include preparing the orchestral arrangements for Neil Finn’s ‘Song of the Lonely Mountain’ from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, and Billy Boyd’s ‘The Last Goodbye’ from The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies, both recorded at London’s Abbey Road Studio, as well as local NZ productions such as ‘Belief: The Possession of Janet Moses’ and ‘Mahana’.
A sought-after arranger, Ryan’s arrangements have been performed by artists ranging from Jason Kerrison (Opshop), Miss Connie (Sneaky Sound System), Ria Hall, Kings, P-Digsss (Shapeshifter) and Ilan Kidron (The Potbelleez), through to Sol3 Mio, the New Zealand String Quartet, the New Zealand Opera Chorus, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and the Auckland Philharmonia. Ryan has a catalogue of 250+ arrangements available for hire.
Pivotal in the development and success of Synthony, Ryan worked closely with founding producers Erika Amoore and David Elmsly, and now with Duco Events, and has arranged all of its now 80+ orchestral arrangements, and also works as the show director. Synthony is a large-scale show celebrating the last 30 years of electronic dance music, with full orchestra, DJs and vocalists. It is currently touring Australia and New Zealand, and has seen sold out shows at iconic venues such as Melbourne’s Sidney Myer Music Bowl and Auckland’s Spark Arena.
Highly regarded for his music engraving, Ryan has set the work of many of New Zealand’s leading composers, as well as for publishers including G. Schirmer, Massey University Press and Wai-te-ata Music Press. Often working to typeset old manuscripts as well, such as a new setting of August Enna’s ‘Kleopatra’ for Danish National Opera.
Ryan held the position of Kaitito Pāpori - the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra Communities Composer for three years from 2018-2020 - which involved several new commissions, one inspired by Burt Munro (aka ‘The World’s Fastest Indian’) and another to celebrate the 20 year anniversary of Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf Marine Park. Ryan continues to have a close relationship with the APO and works extensively with their Connecting team which oversees their education and outreach initiatives.
Ryan is also an accomplished conductor, equally at home working in sessions with New Zealand’s leading musicians, or in providing workshops and mentoring for community ensembles.
