Ian Rucker

Ryan Opera Center Ensemble

Previously at Lyric: Man in Bar/Champion and Foreman/Jenůfa (both 2023/24); Moralès/Carmen and Raimbaud/Le Comte Ory (both 2022/23).

The third-year Ryan Opera Center baritone from Oshkosh, Wisconsin, will appear at Lyric in the 2024/25 Season as Schaunard/La Bohème. He holds a master's degree in vocal performance from Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music, where his roles included Count Almaviva/The Marriage of Figaro and the title role/The Barber of Seville. He has also appeared as Papageno/The Magic Flute at Bloomington Chamber Opera. Rucker earned his bachelor's degree in vocal performance at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, where he was heard in the title roles of Don Giovanni and Sweeney Todd, as well as Officer Lockstock/Urinetown and Ernst Ludwig/Cabaret. Concert engagements include Carmina Burana with the Northwest Indiana Symphony. Rucker is a former Palm Beach Opera Apprentice Artist and a former Aspen Music Festival Renée Fleming Artist. He recently received an Encouragement Award in the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition (Wisconsin District) and first place in the James Toland Vocal Arts Competition.