About Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra
Originally founded in 1972, the Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra was adopted under the BPA umbrella in the spring of 1993 and since then has served a musically rich role in our community uniting artists spanning generations and skill levels, and coming from all walks of life, to share their love of music and learn from each other. The Symphony has consistently enjoyed superb leadership throughout its history in such diverse venues as the Bainbridge High School LGI Theater, Saint Barnabas Church, Bloedel Reserve, Bainbridge Alliance Church, and Schneebeck Hall at the University of Puget Sound.
Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra and Bainbridge Performing Arts are enduringly grateful to the countless members of the community who have dedicated their time, energy, money, and audience support to this volunteer organization.
About Music Director & Conductor, Ryan Dakota Farris
Ryan Dakota Farris has quickly become one of the most exciting and in-demand conductors in the Pacific Northwest. Recent highlights include multiple guest conducting appearances with the Bainbridge Symphony, Octava Chamber Orchestra, and Issaquah Philharmonic. Ryan is currently the assistant conductor of Lake Union Civic Orchestra, and in December he stepped in at the last minute to lead a set of holiday concerts with Seattle Festival Orchestra. He is currently pursuing his doctorate in Orchestral Conducting at the University of Washington where he serves as conductor of the Campus Philharmonia and assistant conductor of the University of Washington Symphony. In recent years Ryan has worked as cover conductor for professional orchestras across the country, including the Auburn Symphony in Washington and the Boulder Philharmonic in Colorado. He has also served as an assistant conductor for Colorado MahlerFest and Greater Boulder Youth Orchestras, and as a sectional conductor for Seattle’s Harmonia Orchestra & Chorus.
Ryan was a proud student of the late maestro Michael Jinbo at the Pierre Monteux School and Music Festival in Maine for five summers. He has also studied with many notable conductors including Ludovic Morlot, David Alexander Rahbee, Gary Lewis, Nicholas Carthy, Donald Schleicher, Kensho Watanabe, Kirk Trevor, and Tiffany Lu.
Off the podium, Ryan has performed as principal cellist with the Boulder Opera Company, Seattle Philharmonic Strings, and the University of Washington Symphony. He appeared as a featured concerto soloist with the South Puget Sound College Orchestra in 2019, and regularly performs in chamber music groups across the region. Before moving to the Pacific Northwest, he played regularly with some of Colorado’s best orchestras, including the Boulder Philharmonic, Fort Collins Symphony, and Colorado MahlerFest. Ryan also composes his own music, performs on baroque cello & viola da gamba with the UW Baroque Ensemble, and busts out the traditional Irish fiddle with acclaimed Seattle-based Celtic band Cavort.