Ryan Opera Center Final Auditions

September 17. 2023

September 17. 2023

Ryan Opera Center Final Auditions

Join us to watch more than 20 finalists representing the world’s finest emerging artists audition for a spot in the Ryan Opera Center’s 2024/25 Ensemble. This is a unique opportunity to hear opera’s future stars and participate by voting for the Audience Favorite Award.

Master of Ceremonies: LaRob K. Rafael, WFMT host
Guest Ryan Opera Center Alumna Performer: Kayleigh Decker, mezzo-soprano

  • Location: The Lyric Opera House

Ryan Opera Center Final Auditions are generously made possible by Lead Sponsor Philip G. Lumpkin.

Finalists' airfares are generously provided by American Airlines, Official Airline of Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Finalists

  • Juliette Chauvet

    Juliette Chauvet

    Soprano

  • Adia Evans

    Adia Evans

    Soprano

  • So ry Kim

    So ry Kim

    Soprano

  • Leila Kirves

    Leila Kirves

    Soprano

  • Gemma Nha

    Gemma Nha

    Soprano

  • Emily Richter

    Emily Richter

    Soprano

  • Amanda Sheriff

    Amanda Sheriff

    Soprano

  • Lucy Baker

    Lucy Baker *

    Mezzo-soprano

  • Simona Genga

    Simona Genga

    Mezzo-soprano

  • Chloé Kim

    Chloé Kim

    Mezzo-soprano

  • Sophia Maekawa

    Sophia Maekawa *

    Mezzo-soprano

  • Emma Nossem

    Emma Nossem

    Contralto

  • Patrick Bessenbacher

    Patrick Bessenbacher

    Tenor

  • Brad Bickhardt

    Brad Bickhardt

    Tenor

  • Daniel Espinal

    Daniel Espinal

    Tenor

  • Travon D. Walker

    Travon D. Walker *

    Tenor

  • Heeseung Chae

    Heeseung Chae

    Baritone

  • Sankara Harouna

    Sankara Harouna

    Baritone

  • Bernardo Medeiros

    Bernardo Medeiros

    Baritone

  • Ben Reisinger

    Ben Reisinger

    Baritone

  • Ian Rucker

    Ian Rucker *

    Baritone

  • Christopher Humbert, Jr.

    Christopher Humbert, Jr. *

    Bass-baritone

  • Ossian Huskinson

    Ossian Huskinson

    Bass-baritone

  • Younggwang Park

    Younggwang Park

    Bass

  • Finn Sagal

    Finn Sagal

    Bass-baritone

*Current Ensemble member auditioning for a return year. 

Guest Ryan Opera Center Alumna Performer

Pianists

  • Laurann Gilley

    Laurann Gilley

    Pianist

  • Noah Lindquist

    Noah Lindquist

    Pianist

  • Michael Banwarth

    Michael Banwarth

    Ryan Opera Center Pianist

Schedule

12:00 pm Welcome by Master of Ceremonies, LaRob K. Rafael

Baritones

12:10 pm Heeseung Chae
12:20 pm Sankara Harouna
12:30 pm Bernardo Medeiros
12:40 pm Ben Reisinger
12:50 pm Ian Rucker*

Bass/Bass-baritones

12:55 pm Ossian Huskinson
1:05 pm Younggwang Park
1:15 pm Finn Sagal
1:25 pm Christopher Humbert, Jr.*

1:30 pm - 1:35 pm Pause

Sopranos

1:35 pm Juliette Chauvet
1:45 pm Adia Evans
1:55 pm So ry Kim
2:05 pm Leila Kirves
2:15 pm Gemma Nha
2:25 pm Emily Richter
2:35 pm Amanda Sheriff

2:45 pm - 3:45 pm Intermission

3:45 pm Welcome by Master of Ceremonies, LaRob K. Rafael

Mezzo-sopranos/Contralto

3:55 pm Simona Genga
4:05 pm Chloé Kim
4:15 pm Emma Nossem
4:25 pm Lucy Baker* 
4:30 pm Sophia Maekawa*

Tenors

4:35 pm Patrick Bessenbacher
4:45 pm Brad Bickhardt
4:55 pm Daniel Espinal
5:05 pm Travon D. Walker*

5:10 pm - 5:40 pm Audience Break

5:40 pm - 6:10 pm Ryan Opera Center alumna performance and Q&A, Kayleigh Decker

6:10 pm Announcement of 2024/25 Ensemble and Audience Favorite Award

*Current Ensemble member auditioning for a return year.

Judges

Anthony Freud

General Director, President & CEO
The Women’s Board Endowed Chair

 

Enrique Mazzola

Music Director
John D. and Alexandra C. Nichols Endowed Chair

 

Matthew Ozawa

Chief Artistic Administration Officer

 

Andreas Melinat

Vice President, Artistic Planning

 

Cory Lippiello

Director of Artistic Programs

  

Michael Black

Chorus Director & Head of Music

 

Dan Novak

Vice President and Director, Ryan Opera Center
The Ryan Opera Center Board Endowed Chair

 

Craig Terry

Music Director, Ryan Opera Center
The Jannotta Family Endowed Chair

 

Julia Faulkner

Director of Vocal Studies, Ryan Opera Center

About the Ryan Opera Center

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 honored to enjoy the support of acclaimed soprano Renée Fleming as Advisor at Large, along with full-time staff Director Dan Novak, Music Director Craig Terry, and Director of Vocal Studies Julia Faulkner.

Learn More about the Ryan Opera Center

The road to the Ryan Opera Center

Founded in 1974, The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center is celebrated as one of the world's premier artist-development programs.

Every year some 500 singers audition for a chance to be one of 11-12 members of each season's Ensemble. These rising stars of tomorrow are in residence year-round for a comprehensive curriculum that includes:

  • Distinguished instruction in voice, language, acting and movement

  • Master classes and individual coachings with opera's leading artists, including Ryan Opera Center Advisor at Large Renée Fleming and Lyric's Music Director Enrique Mazzola

  • Performance opportunities throughout Chicagoland and on Lyric's mainstage alongside today's greatest opera singers

Header Photo: The 2021 Ryan Opera Center Final Auditions