The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center Board

The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center Board is led by Nasrin Thierer, who most recently led the Board’s Strategic Planning Committee. Since its inception in 1974, the Ryan Opera Center has been recognized as one of the premier professional artist development programs in the world. Each season, current and former Ensemble members perform important roles in Lyric's mainstage productions. The Board takes great pride in helping to nurture the talents of the best emerging artists of the next generation.

Last updated August 12th, 2021

Honorary Co-Chairs
Patrick G. and Shirley Welsh Ryan

President
Nasrin Thierer

Vice President – At Large
* Julie Baskes

Vice President – At Large
Janet V. Burch

Vice President – Fundraising
* John A. Nitschke

Vice President – Fundraising, Co-Chair
Salme Harju Steinberg

Vice President – Nominating
Debbie K. Wright

Vice President – Nominating, Co-Chair
David S. Fox

Vice President – Strategic Planning
Juliana Chyu

Vice President – Strategic Planning, Co-Chair
Michael A. Oberman

Treasurer
Gregory J. O’Leary

Secretary
Julian A. Oettinger

Members

Queta Bauer
Heidi Heutel Bohn
Tanja Chevalier
Nancy Dehmlow
* Allan Drebin
Erika E. Erich
Lafayette J. Ford
Anthony Freud
Mira J. Frohnmayer
Melvin Gray
Lynn E. Hauser
Mary Ellen Hennessy
Martha A. Hesse
Beatriz Iorgulescu
Loretta Julian
Chester T. Kamin
Michael A. Leppen
Philip Lumpkin
Erma S. Medgysey
Helen Hall Melchior
Frank B. Modruson
Phyllis Neiman
Susan Noel
Kenneth R. Norgan
Jane DiRenzo Pigott
Ted Reichardt
Richard O. Ryan
Richard Warren Shepro
Gay Stanek
Virginia Tobiason
Cynthia Vahlkamp
* Donna Van Eekeren
Harriet Weinstein
Jack Weiss
Joan Zajtchuk

Life Members

Katherine Abelson
Lawrence O. Corry
Mrs. James W. Cozad
Bernard J. Dobroski
Mrs. Thomas D. Heath
* Susan R. Kiphart
Jeanne Randall Malkin
* Keith A. Reed
Mrs. William D. Staley
* William C. Vance
* Mrs. J.W. Van Gorkom
Howard A. Vaughan, Jr.
Mrs. Richard H. Wehman

* Former President