Ryan Opera Center Final Auditions

September 08. 2024

September 08. 2024

Ryan Opera Center Final Auditions

Join us to watch 20 finalists representing the world’s finest emerging artists audition for a spot in the Ryan Opera Center’s 2025/26 Ensemble. This is a unique opportunity to hear opera’s future stars and participate by voting for the Audience Favorite Award.

Master of Ceremonies: LaRob K. Rafael, WFMT host
Guest Ryan Opera Center Alumnus Performer: Martin Luther Clark, tenor

  • Running Time: 5 hours, including 1 intermission
  • Location: The Lyric Opera House

Ryan Opera Center Final Auditions are generously made possible by Philip G. Lumpkin.

Finalists’ airfares are generously provided by American Airlines as the Official Airline of the Ryan Opera Center National Auditions.

Finalists

  • Moriah Berry

    Moriah Berry

    Soprano

  • Sarah Fleiss

    Sarah Fleiss

    Soprano

  • Virginia Mims

    Virginia Mims

    Soprano

  • Sofía Picaso

    Sofía Picaso

    Soprano

  • Adia Evans

    Adia Evans *

    Soprano

  • Emily Richter

    Emily Richter *

    Soprano

  • Allison Fahey

    Allison Fahey

    Mezzo-soprano

  • Alexis Peart

    Alexis Peart

    Mezzo-soprano

  • Camille Robles

    Camille Robles

    Mezzo-soprano

  • Veronica Siebert

    Veronica Siebert

    Mezzo-soprano

  • Emily Treigle

    Emily Treigle

    Mezzo-soprano

  • Giorgi Guliashvili

    Giorgi Guliashvili

    Tenor

  • Daniel Espinal

    Daniel Espinal *

    Tenor

  • Travon D. Walker

    Travon D. Walker *

    Tenor

  • Sihao Hu

    Sihao Hu

    Baritone

  • Paul Jang

    Paul Jang

    Baritone

  • Sankara Harouna

    Sankara Harouna *

    Baritone

  • Wanchun Liang

    Wanchun Liang

    Bass-baritone

  • Benjamin R. Sokol

    Benjamin R. Sokol

    Bass-baritone

  • Christopher Humbert, Jr.

    Christopher Humbert, Jr. *

    Bass-baritone

  • Finn Sagal

    Finn Sagal *

    Bass-baritone

*Current Ensemble member auditioning for a return year. 

Guest Ryan Opera Center alumnus performer

  • Martin Luther Clark

    Martin Luther Clark

    Tenor

Pianists

  • Alan Darling

    Alan Darling

    Pianist

  • Laurann Gilley

    Laurann Gilley

    Pianist

  • Noah Lindquist

    Noah Lindquist

    Pianist

Schedule

12:00 pm Welcome by Master of Ceremonies, LaRob K. Rafael

Baritones/Bass-baritones

12:10 pm Sihao Hu
12:20 pm Paul Jang
12:30 pm Sankara Harouna*
12:35 pm Wanchun Liang
12:45 pm Benjamin R. Sokol
12:55 pm Christopher Humbert, Jr.*
1:00 pm Finn Sagal*

1:05 pm - 1:10 pm Pause

Mezzo-sopranos

1:10 pm Allison Fahey
1:20 pm Alexis Peart
1:30 pm Camille Robles
1:40 pm Veronica Siebert
1:50 pm Emily Treigle

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm Intermission

3:00 pm Welcome by Master of Ceremonies, LaRob K. Rafael

Sopranos

3:10 pm Moriah Berry
3:20 pm Sarah Fleiss
3:30 pm Virginia Mims
3:40 pm Sofía Picaso
3:50 pm Adia Evans*
3:55 pm Emily Richter*

Tenors

4:00 pm Giorgi Guliashvili
4:10 pm Daniel Espinal*
4:15 pm Travon D. Walker*

4:20 pm - 4:50 pm Audience Break

4:50 pm - 5:20 pm Ryan Opera Center alumnus performance and Q&A, Martin Luther Clark

5:20 pm Announcement of 2025/26 Ensemble and Audience Favorite Award

*Current Ensemble member auditioning for a return year. 

Judges

John Mangum
Incoming General Director, President & CEO

Enrique Mazzola
Music Director
John D. and Alexandra C. Nichols Endowed Chair

Matthew Ozawa
Chief Artistic Administration Officer

Andreas Melinat
Vice President, Artistic Planning

Cory Lippiello
Director of Artistic Programs

Michael Black
Chorus Director & Head of Music

Dan Novak
Vice President and Director, Ryan Opera Center
The Ryan Opera Center Board Endowed Chair

Craig Terry
Music Director, Ryan Opera Center
The Jannotta Family Endowed Chair

Julia Faulkner
Director of Vocal Studies, Ryan Opera Center

About the Ryan Opera Center

About the Ryan Opera Center

The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center is Lyric's preeminent artist-development program that nurtures the talents of some of the most promising operatic artists of each generation. The program's Ensemble members earn their coveted spot by successfully auditioning more than 500 artists worldwide. Ryan Opera Center alumni are among the dominant names in opera today. Donor generosity ensures continued unparalleled training, performance experience, and professional readiness of Ensemble members. This highly competitive program, established in 1974, is honored to enjoy the support of acclaimed soprano Renée Fleming as Advisor at Large, along with full-time staff Director Dan Novak, Music Director Craig Terry, and Director of Vocal Studies Julia Faulkner.

Learn More about the Ryan Opera Center

The road to the Ryan Opera Center

Founded in 1974, The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center is celebrated as one of the world's premier artist-development programs.

Every year some 500 singers audition for a chance to be one of 11-12 members of each season's Ensemble. These rising stars of tomorrow are in residence year-round for a comprehensive curriculum that includes:

  • Distinguished instruction in voice, language, acting and movement

  • Master classes and individual coachings with opera's leading artists, including Ryan Opera Center Advisor at Large Renée Fleming and Lyric's Music Director Enrique Mazzola

  • Performance opportunities throughout Chicagoland and on Lyric's mainstage alongside today's greatest opera singers

Header Photo: The 2023 Ryan Opera Center Final Auditions