Gene Ryland studied tuba with Bill Bell at the Aspen School of Music summers of 1968 and 1969. He completed his music studies at North Texas University. He was a member of the Air Force field bands. After the Air Force the returned to college at Stephen F. Austin University where he attained degrees in Mathematics and Physics. He began working at the NASA Johnson Space Center as a systems analyst and was also principle tuba in the Clear Lake Symphony, the Houston Civic Symphony, the Houston Sinfonietta and the Gulf Coast Band. He was principal tuba with the Galveston Symphony for over 30 years. Gene was also a member of the Wednesday Evening Brass Quintet and the Camerata Brass Quintet. He has been teaching tuba and euphonium at local Houston schools for the last 5 years.