Ryan Opera Center: artist training

The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center

Ensuring a bright future for opera—at Lyric and around the world

Opera has the power to tell unforgettable stories and touch lives—and the talent of outstanding singer/actors is what makes each experience so resonant. The Ryan Opera Center was created to ensure the future of opera by identifying emerging artists from around the world, and providing them with comprehensive opera training and unique performance opportunities.

The Center's impressive roster of alumni—at work on our own stage and on stages across the globe—proves the value of this unique and intensive training program.

The Ryan Opera Center is administered by Director Dan Novak, Music Director Craig Terry, Director of Vocal Studies Julia Faulkner, and Lyric's Special Projects Advisor, world-renowned soprano, Renée Fleming.

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Scenes from Respighi's La bella dormente nel bosco

These scenes from Respighi's La bella dormente nel bosco feature sopranos Maria Novella Malfatti and Denis Vélez, mezzo-soprano Katherine DeYoung, and tenor Martin Luther Clark, with Chris Reynolds on piano. See more magical moments in our virtual Ryan Opera Center gala, “Magical Music Around the World,” streaming now on Facebook and YouTube.

"Das Zauberlied” with Martin Luther Clark and the 2020/21 Ryan Opera Center Ensemble

In this lively excerpt from Magical Music Around the World, tenor Martin Luther Clark performs "Das Zauberlied” (“The Magic Song”) with the 2020/21 Ryan Opera Center Ensemble and Music Director Craig Terry on piano. 

“Themba Lam” and “Kutheni Sithandwa?” with Lunga Eric Hallam

Tenor Lunga Eric Hallam plays the djembe while singing “Themba Lam” ("My Hope") and “Kutheni Sithandwa?” ("What's Up, My Love?") by South African composer Nomfundo Xaluva, with Craig Terry on piano, as part of Magical Music Around the World.

Rising Stars in Concert (Virtual Concert)

The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center’s annual showcase, “Rising Stars in Concert,” celebrates the extraordinary talents and artistry of the 2020/21 Ensemble. Hear operatic gems and rarities in this virtual concert led by conductor Christopher Allen, with Ryan Opera Center pianist Chris Reynolds and a chamber ensemble of Lyric Opera Orchestra members.

Magical Music Around the World

Experience the artistry of The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center Ensemble in "Magical Music Around the World," a delightfully entertaining, cabaret-style program featuring some of your very favorite bewitching melodies led by Grammy-winning Music Director Craig Terry.

An Invitation from Craig Terry for Magical Music Around the World

Craig Terry invites you to our 2021 virtual Ryan Opera Center Gala, Magical Music Around the World.

Ryan Opera Center At Work: “April Showers”

“Though April showers may come your way, they bring the flowers that bloom in May” An American standard made popular by Al Jolson, “April Showers” reminds us that even the gloomiest clouds have a silver lining. In this installment of our Ryan Opera Center At Work series, first-year baritone Leroy Davis performs the timeless song with fellow Ensemble member Chris Reynolds on piano.

Ryan Opera in Conversation: Ana María Martínez with Denis Vélez

Ryan Opera in Conversation: Ana María Martínez with Ricardo José Rivera

Ryan Opera in Conversation: Ana María Martínez with Richard Ollarsaba

Ryan Opera in Conversation: Ana María Martínez with René Barbera

Ryan Opera in Conversation: Ana María Martínez with Mario Rojas

Ryan Opera Center At Work: “It Had to Be You”

It's been performed by everyone from Doris Day to Ray Charles, and you may recognize this beloved song from popular films like When Harry Met Sally, Casablanca, and A League of Their Own. We hope you enjoy this performance by Ryan Opera Ensemble artist, tenor Martin Luther Clark, with pianist Craig Terry.

“Carceleras” with Denis Vélez

In this clip from "Pasión Latina," first-year soprano Denis Vélez performs the rapid-fire "Carceleras" ("The Prisoners' Song") from Ruperto Chapí's zarzuela Las hijas del Zebedeo with fellow Ryan Opera Center Ensemble member Chris Reynolds on piano

Ryan Opera Center at Work: "A Son of a Gambolier"

In the latest installment of our Ryan Opera Center At Work series, third-year bass-baritone David Weigel performs "A Son of a Gambolier" with Ensemble pianist Chris Reynolds. Part of Charles Ives's "Five Street Songs" song cycle, this humble ditty is a rolicking good time for friends both far and near.

Ryan Opera Center At Work: "Whither Must I Wander"

Continuing our Ryan Opera Center At Work series, bass Anthony Reed and pianist Chris Reynolds perform the melancholy song "Whither Must I Wander" from Ralph Vaughan Williams's song cycle "Songs of Travel," based on the poems of Robert Louis Stevenson.

Ryan Opera in Conversation: Ana María Martínez with David Portillo

Ryan Opera Center At Work: “How Can I Keep From Singing”

In this video from our Ryan Opera Center At Work series, mezzo-soprano Katherine Beck and pianist Chris Reynolds perform Alan Louis Smith's beautiful arrangement of "How Can I Keep From Singing," a popular American folksong originally composed as a Christian hymn by Robert Wadsworth Lowry.

Ryan Opera Center At Work: “Simple Child”

In this installment of our Ryan Opera Center At Work series, first-year mezzo-soprano Katherine DeYoung performs the heart wrenching aria "Simple Child" from Ricky Ian Gordon and Michael Korie's 2007 opera The Grapes of Wrath—based on John Steinbeck's 1939 novel of the same name—with Ryan Opera Center Music Director Craig Terry on piano.

See us in action

Each season the artists of the Ryan Opera Center Ensemble give a variety of performances at Lyric, around Chicago, and online.

Upcoming events

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Join our world-class training program

Every year hundreds of artists from around the globe audition for a chance to be one of the select members of the next season's Ensemble.

Ryan Opera Center auditions

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Discover: The Ryan Opera Center

Come and discover all that The Patrick G. And Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center has to offer.

Provide the stars of tomorrow with your support today

Provide the stars of tomorrow with your support today

The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center prepares emerging singers and pianists for careers in opera by providing unique, comprehensive training. Your gift helps offset the expense of maintaining the high quality of Lyric’s stellar professional artist-development program.

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The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center is supported by:

Photos: Todd Rosenberg, Kyle Flubacker, Lyric Opera of Chicago