© Ryan Babe. All rights reserved.
Bio
Born and raised in Salem, OR, Ryan Babe is a cellist and teacher currently based in Naples, Florida. He is a section cellist with the Naples Philharmonic, joining the orchestra in the 2026-2027 season. He previously held section cello positions with the San Antonio Philharmonic and the Victoria Symphony Orchestra, the latter of which he also performed with as guest principal. He has also performed with the Houston Symphony and the BBC Philharmonic (Manchester, U.K.).His summer festival activities include, most notably, the Britt Festival Orchestra, where he recently won a tenure-track section cello position after previously serving as a substitute cellist in 2025. As a student, he attended the Taipei Music Academy and Festival and the Meadowmount School of Music for two summers under the tutelage of Hans Jørgen Jensen, where he was a member of one of three quartets selected to perform at the school.A passionate performer of new music, Ryan frequently performs music by living composers. He performed in Performing Arts Houston’s “New/Now” series giving the world premiere of a piece by Kay Prince. He has also advocated for the works of his great uncle Warren Daugherty, whose “Duet for Alto Saxophone and Cello” has reached over 25 thousand views on YouTube.Ryan earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Cello performance from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, where he studied for five years with Desmond Hoebig and one year with Valentin Radutiu. His other teachers include Marilyn de Oliveira, Christopher French, and Andrea Chandler.In his spare time, Ryan enjoys reading, hiking, and spending time with his dogs. He plays on a fine English cello from 1785, branded by the Longman & Broderip Firm and suspected to be David Furber’s work.
Studio
I am currently accepting new private cello students! Please use the contact form linked below to contact me about getting started.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ages/levels do you teach?
I have taught and am open to teaching all levels and ages! I have taught children with ages still in single digits as well as adult beginners. I enjoy the unique challenges that each demographic brings.How long are lessons?
My standard lesson length is one hour, but I can and do adjust down to 30 minutes or up to 90, based on what is appropriate for the level/age of the student.Where do you teach?
I generally teach from my home in South Naples or on the campus of Artis-Naples. In rare cases I may be able to accommodate lessons in the student's home. (Parent/guardian must be present at all times if the student is under 18)Do you offer virtual/Zoom lessons?
In-person lessons are always highly encouraged, but in cases where this is not possible or practical, I can accommodate virtual lessons.