Ryan Galik is a music theory PhD student and Sproull fellow in his second year at Eastman. His research broadly investigates the role of subversion in ambient music as a way for artists to distinguish themselves in contemporary “ubiquitous music” ecologies. The project seeks to integrate literature from music theory, music cognition, media and sound studies, as well as musicology and sociology to address these artists and their music. He previously earned two master’s degrees from Michigan State University in music theory and composition.

Ryan has presented his research at various regional and national conferences. His paper on flow states and Tim Hecker’s 2013 album Virgins, titled, “Don’t Pop the Bubble,” received both MTSMA’s 2023 Dorothy Payne best student paper award in Baltimore, MD and the SMT’s 2023 student presentation award in Denver, CO. His research on “Metadiegesis in Recorded Music and Film” received TSMT’s 2023 Colvin Student Paper award in Kingsville, TX. His latest paper on music and boredom, “Well-Worn Grooves” was an honorable mention for MTMW’s 2025 Arthur Komar student paper award and his latest project, “What Conversational Solfège Teaches Us About Teaching Collegiate Aural Skills” received the best student paper award at the 2024 Pedagogy Into Practice conference and will be published very soon in the Journal of Music Theory Pedagogy.