This year at GHP, the percussion section is led Mr. Ryan Smith. As a performer, Mr. Smith has very extensive experience. He has performed in masterclasses for Leigh Howard Stevens, Michael Burritt, Alan Abel, James Ross, Frederic Macarez, and the percussion ensemble Nexus. Some of his other performance highlights include playing with Ray Charles and his Band, Oklahoma! with the Augusta Opera, and a concert including the music of Charles Ives, Lou Harrison, and John Cage at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City.

At GHP 2006, Mr. Smith has had the honor of being the teacher of the 20th century masterworks class. His selection to teach this class was a simple one since he remains a strong advocate of new music. He is active in commissioning new works for solo percussion and percussion ensemble and has performed in contemporary music ensembles for such composers as Charles Wuorinen and Joan Tower.

In addition to performing, Mr. Smith is a clinician and adjudicator in the southeast on topics such as marimba, general percussion, and percussion ensemble. Mr. Smith is a founding member of the percussion quartet/quintet Arasmas. His professional organizations include Pi Kappa Lambda and the Percussive Arts Society. Mr. Smith has been chosen as one of four finalists internationally to compete in the 2005 Percussive Arts Society Multi-Percussion with CD/electronic accompaniment at the PAS International Convention to be held in Columbus, Ohio in November.