The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center

The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center prepares emerging singers and apprentice coaches for careers in opera by providing unique, comprehensive training.

Established in 1974 as the professional artist-development program for Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Ryan Opera Center has been recognized as one of the premier programs of its kind in the world for more than four decades. That standing is maintained by providing the finest up-and-coming singers and pianists with unparalleled training and experience.

The program is administered by Director Dan Novak, Music Director Craig Terry, Director of Vocal Studies Julia Faulkner, and Advisor Renée Fleming.

Please direct all inquiries to Emma Scherer, Ryan Opera Center Associate at 312.827.3510

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Apply Now

The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center is now accepting applications from emerging singers and collaborative pianists for the 2020/21 Ensemble. Click here for complete audition information. Applications are free and must be submitted via YAP Tracker. If you do not have a YAP Tracker account, register for free at yaptracker.com.

Audition Information

Ryan Opera Center Ensemble

The 2019/20 Ryan Opera Center Ensemble — 11 singers and a pianist — is comprised of three new artists and nine returning. Meet the artists and find out where you'll see them on stage this season.

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Ryan Opera Center Alumni

Since 1974 the Ryan Opera Center has trained nearly 300 artists and has helped to launch major international careers. See a sampling of our most distinguished alumni.

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Events & Media

Each season the artists of the Ryan Opera Center Ensemble give a variety of performances at Lyric and around Chicagoland. Find information on upcoming events, as well as photos, videos, and audio clips from previous season highlights, including our unique WFMT Broadcast Recital Series.

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Voice Instruction

Robert and Ellen Marks
Vocal Studies Program
Endowed Chair
in honor of Gianna Rolandi

Julia Faulkner
Gianna Rolandi
W. Stephen Smith

Guest Master Artists

Marco Armiliato
Harry Bicket
Deborah Birnbaum
Sir Andrew Davis
Matthew A. Epstein
Renée Fleming
Dmitry Korchak
Matthew Polenzani

Coaching Staff

Alan Darling
Laurann Gilley
Bénédicte Jourdois
Celeste Rue
Eric Weimer
Pedro Yanez

Foreign Language Instruction

Julia Klein
Derek Matson
Marina Vecci
Alessandra Visconti
Melissa Wittmeier

Acting and Movement Instruction

Dawn Arnold
Katie Klein
E. Loren Meeker
Elise Sandell

Performance Psychology

Orit Carpenter

Guest Lecturer and Consultant

Roger Pines
The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan
Opera Center Staff

Dan Novak
Director, The Ryan Opera Center Board Endowed Chair

Craig Terry
Music Director, The Jannotta Family Endowed Chair

Julia Faulkner
Director of Vocal Studies, The Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation

Renée Fleming
Advisor

Emma Scherer
Associate

Wendy Skoczen
Staff Librarian

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

Officers

Patrick G. and Shirley Welsh Ryan
Honorary Co-Chairs

John Nitschke
President

* Julie Baskes
Vice President – At Large

Janet Burch
Vice President – At Large

^ Philip G. Lumpkin
Vice President – Fundraising

Sally Feder
Vice President – Fundraising Co-Chair

*^ Susan Kiphart
Vice President – Nominating

Jane DiRenzo Pigott
Vice President – Nominating Co-Chair

^ Joan Zajtchuk
Vice President – Strategic Planning

Juliana Chyu
Vice President – Strategic Planning Co-Chair

Debbie K. Wright
Treasurer

Roberta Lane
Assistant Treasurer

Chester T. Kamin
Secretary

Dan Novak
Assistant Secretary

Members

Nicole M. Arnold
Heidi Heutel Bohn
^ Tanja Chevalier
Tamara Conway
Lawrence O. Corry
Nancy Dehmlow
* Allan Drebin
Erika E. Erich
David S. Fox
John G. Forsythe
Mira J. Frohnmayer
Anthony Freud
Mary Patricia Gannon
Melvin Gray
Mrs. Thomas D. Heath
Mary Ellen Hennessy
Martha A. Hesse
Loretta Julian
Jeanne Randall Malkin
Robert C. Marks
Erma S. Medgyesy
Helen Melchior
Frank B. Modruson
^ Phyllis Neiman
Susan Noel
Gregory J. O’Leary
Michael A. Oberman
Ted Reichardt
Richard O. Ryan
Richard W. Shepro
Salme Harju Steinberg
^ Narsin Thierer
Cynthia Vahlkamp
Donna Van Eekeren
Mrs. Richard H. Wehman
Jack Weiss

Life Members

* Katherine A. Abelson
Mrs. James W. Cozad
Bernard J. Dobroski
Anne Gross
* Keith A. Reed
Orli Staley
* William C. Vance
* Mrs. J. W. Van Gorkom
Howard A. Vaughan, Jr.

* Former President
^ Team Chair

Provide the stars of tomorrow with your support today.

The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center prepares emerging singers and apprentice coaches 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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