Ryan Nestor is a percussionist specializing in contemporary music. Currently on faculty at the University of San Diego, Nestor teaches applied percussion and a variety of music courses. As a performer, Nestor has commissioned and premiered numerous works. He is a former member of the percussion ensemble Red Fish Blue Fish and has performed alongside groups such as the International Contemporary Ensemble and The Bang on a Can All-Stars. Performance highlights include appearances at Walt Disney Concert Hall, Cervantino Music Festival, Ojai Music Festival, and the Old Globe Theater, where he served as music director for the 2014 production of Othello. Nestor earned the DMA degree from the University of California, San Diego, the MM from Stony Brook University, and the BMME from the University of Kentucky.