Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center Announces Auditions for 2025/26 Ensemble Singers

CHICAGO (1/11/24) — The esteemed Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center at Lyric Opera of Chicago, renowned for its commitment to developing emerging artists, announces that applications are now open for singers in its 2025/26 Ensemble.

Singers from around the world are invited to complete an initial online application including video recordings. Applications are free and must be submitted via YAP Tracker; free registration for a YAP Tracker account can be found at yaptracker.com. Deadlines for submission range from March 18 through June 7, 2024 pending audition dates and location.

The Ryan Opera Center is an equal-opportunity employer/program and encourages qualified artists from historically underrepresented groups, including but not limited to those who identify as Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Color, to apply for its Ensemble.

Select applicants will be invited to live Preliminary Auditions in New York or Chicago. Singers who then further advance to the September 8, 2024 Final Auditions will be hosted for a weekend in Chicago with coachings, interviews, and the auditions on Lyric’s mainstage.

The approximate program dates for the 2025/26 Ryan Opera Center Ensemble are May 12, 2025, through April 25, 2026, with an option for renewal, as the positions are expected to have a two-year residency.

To learn more about Ryan Opera Center singer auditions, please visit lyricopera.org/ryan-opera-center/auditions. For questions, please contact Susanna McNatt, Ryan Opera Center Manager, at [email protected] or 312-827-3510.

Ryan Opera Center Final Auditions are generously made possible by Lead Sponsor Philip G. Lumpkin.
Finalists' airfares are generously provided by American Airlines as the Official Airline of the Ryan Opera Center National Auditions.

Lyric Opera's Season is presented by

About the Ryan Opera Center

The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center is Lyric’s preeminent artist-development program that nurtures the talents of some of the most promising operatic artists of each generation. The program’s Ensemble members earn their coveted spot by successfully auditioning among more than 500 artists worldwide. Its alumni are among the dominant names in opera today. Donor generosity ensures continued unparalleled training, performance experience, and professional readiness of Ensemble members. This highly competitive program, established in 1974, is led by Director Dan Novak, Music Director Craig Terry, and Director of Vocal Studies Julia Faulkner.

Learn More about the Ryan Opera Center

About Lyric

Lyric Opera of Chicago is where the world sings — and where Chicago comes alive.

Under the leadership of General Director, President & CEO John Mangum and Music Director Enrique Mazzola, Lyric stands at the intersection of artistic excellence and civic purpose, harnessing the full power of opera — voice, orchestra, stagecraft, and story — to illuminate the questions, emotions, and experiences that define us as human beings. Nearly 75 seasons of world-class performances have made Lyric one of the greatest opera companies in the world. What drives us now is what has always driven us: the belief that this art form, at its best, can move people in ways nothing else can.

Lyric is also Chicago’s partner — in its neighborhoods, its schools, and its communities — through education, engagement, and a relentless commitment to making opera accessible, relevant, and irresistible to everyone. At the heart of that commitment is The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center, which trains the artists who will carry this art form into its future. Every night when the curtain rises, Lyric reminds this city — and the world — why live performance still matters.

Lyric Opera of Chicago doesn’t just present opera, it redefines what opera can be. It’s where Chicago comes to be moved, inspired, and connected.

Join us @LyricOpera on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Threads, and Facebook. #WhereChicagoSings