Clay Ross is a multi-Grammy winning artist and the founder of the Billboard chart-topping band Ranky Tanky. A native of South Carolina, Ross moved to NYC in 2002 and has since collaborated with artists as diverse as Gregory Porter, Snarky Puppy, and Bobby McFerrin. Through multiple collaborations with the U.S. State Department, he has toured worldwide as a Cultural Ambassador. As a teaching artist, through renowned cultural institutions including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, Ross has facilitated a variety of musical experiences, ranging from stand-alone concerts to intensive year-long creative workshops designed to have a powerful impact on participants’ daily lives. Ross is the co-founder of Compose Your Career, an online course that teaches musicians how to create a sustainable career in the performing arts. He maintains a busy touring schedule with multiple projects including American Patchwork Quartet, which has recently been awarded grants through South Arts, MidAtlantic Arts, and APAP-ArtsForward.