A native of Mt. Prospect, IL, Master Sergeant Ryan Janus plays saxophone in the Unites States Air Force Academy Band.
MSgt Janus received a BA in math and a BM in music from Hope College. While at Hope he was a two-time concerto competition winner on saxophone and was named the outstanding senior Fine Arts major in 1998. Also in 1998, he studied clarinet at the Vienna Conservatory with Roger Salander of the Vienna Philharmonic. Sergeant Janus attended the University of South Florida and received a Masters in Music. While in Florida, he played with the Florida Orchestra, Disney World, and Busch Gardens.
From 2000-2005, Sergeant Janus taught saxophone, class piano, and music theory at Hope College. He has done a wide variety of freelance work. This includes playing clarinet, sax, and keyboards in five professional orchestras; commissioning, performing, and recording sax concertos by Grammy- and Pulitzer-winning composers; writing music for scholastic and professional groups; playing in over 30 musicals, including several Broadway tours and several stints as music director; and playing with celebrities such as Bob Newhart, Martin Short, the Temptations, NY Voices, Renee Fleming, and Barry Manilow.
MSgt Janus joined the Air Force in 2005 and was assigned to the USAF Academy Band in Colorado as a saxophonist. In 2014 he was reassigned as a pianist to the Band of Mid-America. With the Air Force, Sergeant Janus has performed on eight different instruments in over 40 states, several foreign countries, major halls and festivals, professional sporting events, and national radio and TV broadcasts. In his "spare" time, he enjoys playing sports, taking road trips, and spending time with his wife and five children.
EDUCATION:
1998 Bachelor of Music Degree, Hope College, Holland, MI
1998 Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics Degree, Hope College, Holland, MI
2000 Master of Music Degree, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
2009 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Peterson Air Force Base, CO
ASSIGNMENTS:
Dec 2005 – Jan 2006 Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, TX
Jan 2006 – Aug 2014 USAF Academy Band, Peterson AFB, CO
Aug 2014 – Oct 2020 USAF Band of Mid-America, Scott AFB, IL
Nov 2020 – Present USAF Academy Band, Peterson SFB, CO
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Basic Military Training Honor Graduate ribbon
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Airman First Class – 6 Dec 2005
Technical Sergeant – 23 Jan 2006
Master Sergeant – 1 Aug 2021