After teaching for several years he decided to pursue a masters in music education at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). While at UIUC Ranon fell in love with film making, inspiring a career pivot into sound design and location sound engineering.

An experienced performance artist and musician, Ranon has been an active member of the Chicago music and Improv scene for several years. Ensembles include work with DePaul University, Horner Park and the IO Theater in Chicago. A proven leader and mentor, Ranon was an instrumental force in helping the Hip-Hop Collective (HHC) at the UIUC become a student organization. Through the HHC, he taught audio mixing, mastering, and logistics to both undergraduates and graduate students.