I am a professional cellist based in Pasadena, California. I regularly perform with the Los Angeles Opera, Pasadena Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Pasadena Pops, and have contributed to major Hollywood film soundtracks including Spider-Man 3, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, All the King’s Men, and Click.

This site is a resource for current and prospective students, with recommendations on materials, tools, and local resources. You’ll also find events and opportunities for musical growth in the Los Angeles area.

My studio is open to beginning students through the college level. For more on my background and teaching approach, please see the full bio below.

It is my belief that a teacher’s desire to educate and train must equal or even exceed that of a student’s desire to learn. The responsibility I have given myself of inspiring my students to surpass their expectations is one that I embrace fully. It is my intention that my students consistently push themselves to the peak of their abilities, and I know that with hard work and intelligent practice my students will be limited only by their desire to succeed.

My Teaching Philosophy

Ryan Sweeney is a dedicated and accomplished cellist, known for his exceptional talent and commitment to music education. With forty years of experience as a cellist and twenty years as a teacher, he has made a significant impact in both performance and education. A graduate of the Northwestern University School of Music and the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, he returned to his hometown of Pasadena, California in 2005 to pursue a career as a performing artist while helping young cellists develop their talents.

He has performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Opera, Pasadena Symphony Orchestra, and Pasadena Pops, and has contributed to major Hollywood motion picture soundtracks, including Spider-Man 3, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, All the King’s Men, and Click. He has appeared as a soloist with orchestra and in recital in cities including Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago, New Jersey, Tel Aviv, and Jerusalem.

A dedicated teacher, Mr. Sweeney has been involved in music education for over two decades. He has maintained a private studio since 2001, working with students in Chicago, San Francisco, Houston, and Los Angeles. He has also held a range of educational roles, including coaching youth orchestras, serving as a chamber music instructor at Idyllwild Arts Academy, and working as a teaching assistant at the Meadowmount School of Music. His students have gone on to perform with prominent youth orchestras.

Mr. Sweeney has studied with world-class cellists including Lynn Harrell, Hans Jørgen Jensen, Ronald Leonard, and John Walz, and has participated in master classes with Janos Starker, Ralph Kirschbaum, and Ko Iwasaki. He has also worked with leading chamber musicians, including the American String Quartet, the Tokyo String Quartet, the Guarneri String Quartet, and violinist Hilary Hahn, and has performed with Pinchas Zuckerman in a chamber music setting.

Throughout his career, Mr. Sweeney has received several awards and recognition for his performances and musicianship.