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 Advisor at Large Renée Fleming.

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

Media

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

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 artists 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.

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

Header photo: The 2023/24 Ryan Opera Center Ensemble, Music Director Enrique Mazzola, and the Lyric Opera Orchestra at Sunday in the Park with Lyric (2023). Credit: Kyle Flubacker

All other photos: Todd Rosenberg, Kyle Flubacker, Andrew Cioffi/Lyric Opera of Chicago