Ryan Hobbs

Trumpet | Geneva, IL

Ryan Hobbs is a busy freelance trumpet player and educator who joined the faculty of Illinois Wesleyan University in 2020, where he teaches applied trumpet lessons, trumpet studio class, and coaches chamber ensembles. He is also tRyan Hobbs is a busy freelance trumpet player and educator who joined the faculty of Illinois Wesleyan University in 2020, where he teaches applied trumpet lessons, trumpet studio class, and coaches chamber ensembles. He is also the founder and leader of the Chicago-based brass quintet Northside Brass, an award-winning ensemble active in performance, education, and community outreach throughout the Midwest.

As a freelance musician, Hobbs maintains an active and varied performance career. He has appeared with numerous orchestras and ensembles around the country, including the Lyric Opera Orchestra of Chicago, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, American Ballet Theater (NYC), Louisiana Philharmonic, Chicago Sinfonietta, Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra, Chicago Philharmonic, Des Moines Symphony, Omaha Symphony, South Dakota Symphony, Elgin Symphony Orchestra, Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, and Present Music Milwaukee, and many others. His work spans orchestral, chamber, opera, ballet, and contemporary music settings.

Hobbs has performed alongside world-renowned artists such as Victor Wooten, Andrea Bocelli, Doc Severinsen, Jane Monheit, Dennis DeYoung (Styx), the Harlem String Quartet, and violinists Rachel Barton Pine, Melissa White, and Tessa Lark. He has also appeared in numerous Broadway productions in Chicago, including The Sound of Music, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Deeply committed to music education, Hobbs maintains a large and active private trumpet studio in the Chicago area and works closely with students at all levels. In addition to his university teaching, he serves as a trumpet instructor at Neuqua Valley High School, Metea Valley High School, St. Charles North High School, and Geneva High School. He has previously taught at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, St. Xavier University, and Birch Creek Music Performance Center, where he is excited to return this summer as a member of the faculty.

Hobbs studied the trumpet with Matt Lee, Kevin Hartman, John Rommel, Will Scarlett, John Hagstrom, Barbara Butler, Charles Geyer, and other distinguished pedagogues.