Lyric Opera 2021-2022 Rising Stars

Lyric Opera of Chicago | 12 KATHERINE BECK I am so grateful to have been a part of the Ryan Opera Center here at Lyric. It truly is a dream program: We are expected to work hard and show our best, and in turn, we are given incredible support and respect in every way. My time has been unique with the onset of the pandemic and the birth of our first son, but even so, I have found a family here in Chicago and an artistic support system to keep me going. I am inspired by the way the team of directors and coaches push me to take risks and show my true self, and I am certain that I will carry these skills and lessons with me as I continue my career. I am so blessed to be a part of the Lyric family. LEROY DAVIS I cannot express enough gratitude for all the Ryan Opera Center has done for me. The guidance and mentorship of the administration and faculty have been invaluable. They have helped me discover and develop the artistry I aspire to share. They have taught me how to embrace my sound, how to best express my interpretations, and have opened my eyes to the many ways I can continue to grow. I feel honored to be a part of such an incredibly supportive program, especially throughout the pandemic. As the new year unfolds, I am excited to put into practice what I have learned and continue exploring. I will be forever thankful for all the Ryan Opera Center has given me. Photo: Kyle Flubacker Photo: Kyle Flubacker From the Music Director This concert celebrates the tenure of seven departing Ryan Opera Center artists,who reflect on their experiences at Lyric. The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center, Lyric Opera of Chicago’s artist development program, is known and admired around the world. When I first arrived in Chicago in 2016 to conduct Lucia di Lammermoor , I made sure to become acquainted with everyone affiliated with the Ryan Opera Center. I knew all along that I wanted to work in close collaboration with the Ensemble, not only to share my knowledge and experience but also to receive knowledge in return. This beautiful program is full of possibilities and is close to my heart. It is an extraordinary asset, and I’m thrilled to share the stage with these artists in tonight’s concert. Ryan Opera Center Ensemble members receive rigorous, world-class training in the pillars of opera. They have a very demanding preparation schedule, with coaching in music, vocal skills, acting, movement, and languages. They have numerous performance opportunities during the year. They are cast in mainstage opera productions, and they understudy major roles, working with conductors, directors, and veteran singers who can speak with them and share knowledge about being on stage. In addition to meeting with these Rising Stars often during the season, I have personally worked with them, one on one. For me, this has been an exceptional way to get to know them, and to observe their progress and their promise. Often for emerging talent, this level of interaction and experience is a luxury, but for us it is the rule. Another thing that the Ryan Opera Center represents and cultivates is the diversity that we seek today, not only in our major institutions but all across the arts. Over the years, the Ryan Opera Center’s participants have served as ambassadors of the beauty of classical music and opera in many different communities of Chicago and on stages around the world. It is my sincere wish that we will continue and expand these efforts. We can too easily forget to look ahead. And there is nothing more important for our art form than to consider what will help ensure a bright future. We must, and we will, continue to invest more and more in the next generation to preserve the social and cultural treasure that is opera. Enrique Mazzola Photo: Kyle Flubacker