Meet one of Livingston Parish's own who's preparing for a moment few musicians ever experience.
At just 16, Ryder Chance Pettitt-Wise of Walker has been selected as one of only 1,000 musicians worldwide to perform with Rockin'1000, a massive, stadium-style rock concert that brings players of all ages and backgrounds together for a single, unforgettable show.
That moment will happen Jan. 31, 2026, when Rockin'1000 takes over the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. One thousand musicians. One stage. One night of collaborative rock and roll.
What began in 2015 as founder Fabio Zaffagnini's bold idea to bring the Foo Fighters to his small Italian hometown of Cesena has grown into a worldwide movement of more than 100,000 music lovers. Ryder is now part of that global community.
Music has shaped Ryder's life from an early age. His first time on stage came in third grade, when he sang Aerosmith's "Amazing" and even played harmonica, a performance that made him want more. By fifth grade, he was singing and playing guitar at his school talent show, where he also discovered something unexpected: despite being right-handed, he is a left-handed guitarist.
A junior at Walker High School, Ryder qualified for his school's talented music program and largely taught himself guitar through independent practice and occasional lessons. His musical journey has since taken him well beyond the classroom. This past summer, he attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, participated in the New Orleans Traditional Jazz Camp on Bourbon Street, and performed nightly in jazz clubs and restaurants, even joining second line parades through the French Quarter. He also attended the California Music Institute guitar camp.
In addition to guitar, Ryder is an accomplished vocalist. He recently made the All-State Honors Choir and performed at its convention in New Orleans. He currently sings and plays guitar in two rock bands, Rising Tide with BR Music Studios and King Neptune out of Baton Rouge, and is deeply involved in musical theater. He is rehearsing for Seussical as Horton and Into the Woods as Cinderella's Prince, and will compete at the Louisiana Thespian Festival this January with a performance from Les Misérables.
Ryder has also used music as a way to give back. He performed at a large Ozzy Osbourne tribute show that raised more than $6,000 for Parkinson's research and sang at a suicide awareness event honoring a close friend. One especially meaningful moment came during a Rockin'1000 jam session at the Hard Rock Café New Orleans, when Ryder was surprised on stage with his Walker High School graduation ring, a memory he says he will never forget.
Jan. 31 will be Ryder's biggest stage yet. But for someone who's performed everywhere from Bourbon Street to Berklee, stepping onto the Superdome floor with 999 other musicians is just the next step in a journey that started with a third-grader and a harmonica.
