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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Lyric Opera of Chicago's Ryan Opera Center is now accepting singer applications for the 2021/22 Ensemble.

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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
W. Stephen Smith

Guest Master Artists

Deborah Birnbaum
Alessandro Corbelli
Sir Andrew Davis
Matthew A. Epstein
Renée Fleming
James Gaffigan
Susan Graham
Enrique Mazzola
Gerald Martin Moore
Louisa Muller
Patricia Racette
Christian van Horn
Anne Sofie von Otter

Coaching Staff

William C. Billingham
Alan Darling
Laurann Gilley
Noah Lindquist
Celeste Rue
Eric Weimer
Pedro Yanez

Foreign Language Instruction

Irina Feoktistova
Julia Savoie Klein
Derek Matson
Klára Moldová
Sharon Peterson
Marina Vecci
Alessandra Visconti
Melissa Wittmeier

Acting and Movement Instruction

Dawn Arnold
Katie Klein
Andrew Gordon Knox
Laurel Krabacher
E. Loren Meeker

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

^ Jane DiRenzo Pigott
Vice President – Nominating

Debbie K. Wright
Vice President – Nominating Co-Chair

^ Joan Zajtchuk
Vice President – Strategic Planning

Juliana Chyu
Vice President – Strategic Planning Co-Chair

Salme Harju Steinberg
Treasurer

Chester T. Kamin
Secretary

Members

Nicole M. Arnold
Heidi Heutel Bohn
Tanja Chevalier
Lawrence O. Corry
^Nancy Dehmlow
*Allan Drebin
Erika E. Erich
Jack Forsythe
David S. Fox
Anthony Freud
Mira J. Frohnmayer
Melvin Gray
Mary Ellen Hennessy
Martha A. Hesse
Loretta Julian
*Susan Kiphart
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
Nasrin Thierer
^ Cynthia Vahlkamp
Donna Van Eekeren
Harriet Weinstein
Jack Weiss

Life Members

*Katherine A. Abelson
Mrs. James W. Cozad
Bernard J. Dobroski
Mrs. Thomas D. Heath
Jeanne Randall Malkin
*Keith A. Reed
Orli Staley
*William C. Vance
*Mrs. J. W. Van Gorkom
Howard A. Vaughan, Jr.
Mrs. Richard H. Wehman

*Former President
^ Team Chair

Last updated 11/5/19

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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