Raised in Muskegon, Michigan, Ryan Avila began playing the double bass when he was 10 years old. He joined the Baltimore Symphony bass section in September 2024. Prior to his time in Baltimore, Ryan held a one-year contract with the Houston Symphony. He has also performed with the Houston Grand Opera and Kinetic Ensemble while living in Houston. Ryan received a Bachelors and Masters degree from Rice University, where he studied with Paul Ellison. During his time at Rice, Ryan attended summer music festivals including Domaine Forget Academy, Music Academy of the West, Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, and Wabass Institute.