“A violist unlike any other” (Stir Vancouver), Canadian Ryan Davis has swiftly emerged as a singular creative force. Davis commands praise for his presence as a composer-performer under the moniker Radia, unifying his extensive classical training with the inspiration of folk, electronic, and hip-hop music. An “electronic Wunderkind” (OperaRamblings), he delights in redefining the viola’s profile and seamlessly blending in between creative spaces. His unique sound has garnered attention and has been featured in diverse spaces, including in Toronto’s Koerner Hall, The Violin Channel, in Los Angeles’s Skid Row, and on ABC Channel 7 News LA. Of Glow & Abandon, his debut EP, was released on all major platforms in December 2021, “showcasing multitudes of colours and possibilities, with much skill and imagination” (The WholeNote). He was named one of “30 Hot Canadian Classical Musicians Under 30” by CBC Music in 2021. Davis was recently appointed as Assistant Professor, Viola, at the University of British Columbia’s School of Music in Vancouver.

Davis completed music studies at McGill University, Yale University, and The Colburn School, under the tutelage of Andre Roy, Ettore Causa, and Paul Coletti. He was the first ever violist Rebanks Fellow in 2019, in the Rebanks Family Fellowship & International Performance Residency Program in Toronto. 

Photo credit to Stuart Lowe.