Ryan Quinn croons in Utica and Albany

Ryan Quinn performs in the SUNY Poly Student Center in Utica on Tuesday, September 6, 2016.

The lunch hour at SUNY Poly in both Utica and Albany was a little more musical than normal, thanks to a big boost of star power from former The Voice contestant and Central New York native, Ryan Quinn.

On September 6, Quinn serenaded students, faculty, and staff in the Student Center in Utica during midday lunch and brought down the house at SUNY Poly’s Colleges of Nanoscale Science and Engineering in Albany on September 12 – two of only a few remaining times to catch the crooner before he moves to Los Angeles.

The singer/songwriter was a Top 24 finalist on Season 10 of NBC’s The Voice, but he began his musical career drumming before his focused turned to singing during college. After college he performed round Central New York for two years as a solo acoustic act before joining guitarist Dave “Dinger” Wingfield, playing acoustic guitar, keyboards, and singing while Dinger played lead guitar and bass.

Ryan Quinn, former contestant on Season 10 of NBC’s The Voice, performs at SUNY Poly’s Colleges of Nanoscale Science and Engineering in Albany on Monday, September 12, 2016.

Quinn became an overnight celebrity after his March performance of “Can’t Find My Way Home” on the NBC singing competition show, finding himself trending on social media, talked about by major news outlets and rising through the charts on iTunes. He advanced to the Live Playoffs and was brought back to perform on the show’s season finale. It was during that time on The Voice that Quinn was able to work with and learn from several of the world’s most famous vocalists and musicians, including Adam Levine, Tori Kelly, Miley Cyrus, and Christina Aguilera.

His appearance at SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Utica and Albany marks some of the few remaining public performances in Central New York before he moves to Los Angeles to continue pursuing a career in music.

A final CNY concert is currently scheduled for Tuesday, September 27 at 7 p.m. at the Stanley Theatre in Utica. The night will showcase songs on Quinn’s new album, performing with local musicians who helped record his CD.