April 02, 2020
The work continues
Artists around the world are finding innovative ways to continue their craft and spark creativity in the new age of "working from home." Members of Lyric's Ryan Opera Center Ensemble are doing the same. From voice lessons and coachings via Zoom with our Director of Vocal Studies Julia Faulkner and Music Director Craig Terry, to memorization and language study, they are hard at work training and preparing for upcoming roles.
During this time, our artists have also found new and exciting ways to collaborate and share their gifts with the world. Through an online video series — Ryan Opera Center From Home — Ensemble members record themselves singing along to a prerecorded piano track. In the end, we are able to bring together one or more artists while still staying safely at home. Here are the videos from this fun series:
Ryan Opera Center From Home: "Ciribiribin"
Soprano Emily Pogorelc and mezzo-sopranos Kayleigh Decker and Kathleen Felty perform "Ciribiribin" with Music Director Craig Terry on piano.
Ryan Opera Center From Home: "Liebestod"
Pianist Madeline Slettedahl performs the Liszt transcription of "Liebestod" from Tristan und Isolde (Wagner).
Ryan Opera Center From Home: "Boum"
Pianist Madeline Slettedahl and mezzo-soprano Kayleigh Decker perform Charles Trenet's "Boum."
Ryan Opera Center From Home: "Italian Street Song"
Soprano Emily Pogorelc, pianist Craig Terry, and The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center Ensemble and staff perform "Italian Street Song" from Victor Herbert’s Naughty Marietta.
Ryan Opera Center From Home: "Beautiful Dreamer"
Recent alums tenor Mario Rojas and pianist Madeline Slettedahl perform Stephen Foster's beloved song "Beautiful Dreamer."
Ryan Opera Center From Home: "Let me Call You Sweetheart"
Keep the love-light glowing with this song by Leo Friedman with lyrics by Beth Slater Whitson, performed by recent alumna Kayleigh Decker and Ryan Opera Center Music Director Craig Terry.
Ryan Opera Center From Home: "My Buddy"
While they've only just left The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center, we already miss our buddies Madeline Slettedahl and Emily Pogorelc. Watch this talented duo of alums perform "My Buddy"— a song originally made popular by Al Jolson, Count Basie, Rosemary Clooney, and more.
Ryan Opera Center From Home: "Daisy Bell (Bicycle Built For Two)"
Recent alumnus Chris Kenney joins The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center music director Craig Terry to serenade us with the 1892 hit "Daisy Bell" better known as "Bicycle Built for Two" by Harry Dacre.
Ryan Opera Center From Home: "Toothbrush Time"
In this installment of Ryan Opera Center From Home, recent alumni Lauren Decker (contralto) and Madeline Slettedahl (pianist) perform William Bolcom's cabaret gem "Toothbrush Time."
Ryan Opera Center From Home: Artist Profiles
Ryan Opera Center From Home: Anthony Reed
Bass Anthony Reed is a first-year member of the Ryan Opera Center. Here, he shares his own experience of training at home due to the COVID-19 crisis.
Ryan Opera Center From Home: Kayleigh Decker
Mezzo-soprano Kayleigh Decker just completed her second and final year in The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center. Keep reading to see how Kayleigh has continued to work from home during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
Ryan Opera Center From Home: Madeline Slettedahl
For the past three years Madeline Slettedahl was the only pianist Ensemble member of The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center. Keep reading to see how Madeline continued to work from home while following Chicago's stay at home order.
Ryan Opera Center From Home: The first week
Meet the first-year members of the 2020/21 Ryan Opera Center Ensemble as they settle into their first week of virtual classes, coachings, and more.