Ryan Babe

Cellist Ryan Babe is a current member of the Naples Philharmonic. Born and raised in Salem, Oregon, he began private cello studies at age 13 with Andrea Chandler and later with Oregon Symphony cellist Marilyn de Oliveira. He then attended Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, studying for five years with Desmond Hoebig and one year with Valentin Radutiu and Christopher French. He graduated in 2026, earning Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in cello performance. Ryan has performed internationally in various solo, orchestral, and chamber music settings. He has performed with the BBC Philharmonic, Houston Symphony, Victoria Symphony, and San Antonio Philharmonic Orchestras. As part of his time in the Taipei Music Academy and Festival, he played chamber music with Jonathan Vinocour, Wei Yu, and David Chan, among others. During the summers, he is a member of the Britt Festival Orchestra in southern Oregon. Ryan has ample experience teaching a variety of levels and age groups, from beginner to advanced and from young children to retirees. His core philosophy is that a good teacher should make themselves obsolete. As such, his lessons focus on helping students develop effective practice strategies, active listening, and problem-solving skills, empowering students to “be their own teacher” as much as possible. This is paired with a regimen of foundational work and musical exploration that is tailored to the needs of each individual student.