Current project: Music Supervisor for new musical “Signs Of Life”, now in development
ABOUT ME
Chris Ranney grew up in the state of Washington and has studied piano since age six. His skills as a pianist, musical director, and conductor have led him to perform on stages all over the United States, including seven years as the Associate Conductor and Musical Director of the Tony Award-winning and Grammy Award-nominated Broadway musical “Come From Away” in New York City.
Chris has worked extensively in his home state of Washington, acting as musical director and pianist for many productions at Seattle’s acclaimed 5th Avenue Theatre, Village Theatre, Seattle Repertory Theatre, and in California at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. Chris’s work has been heard as far away as Shanghai, when he acted as Musical Supervisor and Arranger for “Next Stop Broadway”, a musical review tour of major venues in China. He also performs frequently in New York and California with Tony Award-nominated actress Jenn Colella, and serves as her music director and pianist.
Chris’s career as a traditional musician began in 2016, when he picked up the button accordion while on tour with “Come From Away”. He can now be heard playing at Irish sessions around New York. During the COVID-19 pandemic he co-founded Tune Supply, an online traditional music platform, along with his partner, violinist and fiddler Caitlin Warbelow.
Chris has developed a unique piano accompaniment style for Irish music that draws on his extensive experience with various contemporary styles combined with an ear for traditional melody and chord structure. He has performed at festivals around the US, including the O’Flaherty Irish Music Retreat, the Alaska Folk Festival, and the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival, among others. Chris holds degrees in Performing Arts Technology and Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan.
Upcoming Live Appearances
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