The Ryan Opera Center at Lyric Opera of Chicago Announces Its 2015-16 Ensemble

Dan Novak, director of The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center at Lyric Opera of Chicago, is pleased to announce that soprano Diana Newman, mezzo-sopranos Lindsay Metzger and Annie Rosen, tenors Alec Carlson and Mingjie Lei, baritone Takaoki Onishi, and bass Patrick Guettihave been accepted into the prestigious program beginning April 27, 2015.

The new singers will join current Ryan Opera Center sopranos Hlengiwe Mkhwanazi and Laura Wilde, tenors Jesse Donner and Jonathan Johnson, baritone Anthony Clark Evans, bass-baritone Richard Ollarsaba, and bassBradley Smoak. Completing the Ryan Opera Center's 2015-16 artistic roster is newly selected pianist Mario Antonio Marra.

The 2015-16 ensemble members are natives of Arizona, California, Connecticut (2), Georgia, Hengyang (Hunan Province, China), Illinois, Iowa (2), Kentucky, KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa), New Jersey, North Carolina, South Dakota, and Tokyo (Japan).

The singers were selected at Final Auditions held on Sunday, September 21, in the Ardis Krainik Theatre. For the second year, Lyric Opera donors and subscribers were invited to the Final Auditions, and more than 800 attended the proceedings. Colin Ure served as Master of Ceremonies for the day, and the audience was treated to a performance by Ryan Opera Center alumna Andriana Chuchman, who will be appearing in the season-opening production of Mozart's Don Giovanni. Lyric Opera General Director Anthony Freud, Music Director Sir Andrew Davis, and Director of Artistic Administration Andreas Melinat joined Novak and Ryan Opera Center Music Director Craig Terry in selecting the 2015-16 Ensemble.

Generous support for the Final Auditions was provided by Lead Sponsor The Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation and Sponsors Mr. and Mrs. James W. Cozad.

Current Ryan Opera Center members who will depart after the 2014-15 season are soprano Tracy Cantin, mezzo-sopranos J'nai Bridges and Julie Miller, tenorJohn Irvin, baritone Will Liverman, and pianist Maureen Zoltek.

Each year The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center, the professional artist-development program of Lyric Opera of Chicago, selects gifted young singers from some 500 applicants. Soon after arriving at Lyric in the spring, incoming Ryan Opera Center members begin an intensive full-year residency under the guidance of director Dan Novak, music director Craig Terry, advisor Renée Fleming, and numerous other opera professionals. Coaching sessions and master classes are augmented by performance and understudy experience in Lyric Opera's regular season productions as well as other Ryan Opera Center concerts and recitals.

The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center at Lyric Opera of Chicago
2015-16 Ensemble

Sopranos

Hlengiwe Mkhwanazi, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (2nd year)
Diana Newman, Malibu, California (1st year)
Laura Wilde, Watertown, South Dakota (3rd year)

Mezzo-Sopranos
Lindsay Metzger, Mundelein, Illinois (1st year)
Annie Rosen, New Haven, Connecticut (1st year)

Tenors
Alec Carlson, Red Oak, Iowa (1st year)
Jesse Donner, Des Moines, Iowa (2nd year)
Jonathan Johnson, Macon, Georgia (2nd year)
Mingjie Lei, Hengyang, China (1st year)

Baritones
Anthony Clark Evans, Elizabethtown, Kentucky (3rd year)
Takaoki Onishi, Tokyo, Japan (1st year)

Bass-Baritone
Richard Ollarsaba, Tempe, Arizona (3rd year)

Basses
Patrick Guetti, Highland Park, New Jersey (1st year)
Bradley Smoak, Cary, North Carolina (2nd year)

Pianist
Mario Antonio Marra, North Haven, Connecticut (1st year)

Photo Courtesy of the Ryan Opera Center's Website: While a member of the Ryan Opera Center, Joseph Lim (far right) performed Schaunard with alumna Elizabeth Futral (center) and the rest of the cast of La bohème in Lyric Opera's 2012-13 season.

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