Lyric Opera 2022-2023 Issue 7 - Carmen

29 | Lyric Opera of Chicago and La traviata ), and Fort Worth Opera (Zuniga/ Carmen and Raymond Buck/David T. Little’s JFK , in a world premiere). Wm. Clay Thompson is sponsored by the J.Thomas Hurvis Endowment. IAN RUCKER | MORALÈS Previously at Lyric: Raimbaud/ Le Comte Ory (2022/23). The baritone is a rst-year Ensemble member with the Ryan Opera Center. Formerly an apprentice artist with Palm Beach Opera, Rucker recently spent a summer as a Renée Fleming Artist at the Aspen Summer Music Festival. He holds a Master’s degree in Vocal Performance from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, where he sang Count Almaviva/ The Marriage of Figaro , Figaro/ The Barber of Seville , and Papageno/ The Magic Flute . Rucker received an Encouragement Award for the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition in two districts, took 1st place in the James Toland Vocal Arts Competition, and placed 2nd in the Opera Mississippi John Alexander National Vocal Competition. Ian Rucker is sponsored by Pat & Jerry Frank. ALEJANDRO LUÉVANOS | LILLAS PASTIA Previously at Lyric: A Royal Herald/ Don Carlos and Riccardo/ Ernani (both 2022/23). Born in Durango, Mexico, the tenor is a rst- year member of the Ryan Opera Center Ensemble. He will appear at Lyric later this season in Proximity . His appearances in Mexico include Don José/ Carmen (Toluca Philharmonic Orchestra); Borsa/ Rigoletto , Count Almaviva/ The Barber of Seville, and scenes from Il trovatore (Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado de México); and Rossini’s Stabat Mater and Petite Messe Solennelle , as well as an opera gala with Ramón Vargas (all at Mexico City’s Palacio de Bellas Artes). Luévanos was previously a two-year member of the Opera Studio at the Bellas Artes, where he is scheduled to return to appear in Shostakovich’s Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk . A former participant in the International Summer Program in Sankt Goar, Germany, he is also a 2021 and 2022 winner of the Mexico District in the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition. Alejandro Luévanos is sponsored by an Anonymous Donor. UNITING VOICES CHICAGO Previously at Lyric: 15 productions since 2000/01, most recently Hansel and Gretel (2022/23) and Tosca (2021/22). Uniting Voices Chicago (Josephine Lee, president and artistic director), formerly Chicago Children’s Choir, is the nation’s preeminent youth choral organization, serving 5,200 students across the city of Chicago. Founded in Hyde Park in direct response to the Civil Rights Movement in 1956, UVC has grown from one choir into a vast network of in-school and after-school programs driven by one mission: to inspire and change lives through music. UVC has impacted the lives of more than 50,000 diverse youth throughout its 62-year history. Since its founding, UVC has focused on building programs that re ect the racial and economic diversity of Chicago. Eighty percent of youth served are from low-moderate income homes, with over 4,000 students annually participating completely free of charge. All singers in UVC programs receive some level of subsidy. High school seniors enrolled in UVC have a 100% graduation and college acceptance rate, becoming global ambassadors who carry on UVC’s core values in a wide array of professional elds. CHASE BUNTROCK | DANCER Lyric debut After attending Chicago Academy for the Arts, Buntrock received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from The Juilliard School. He then joined Ballet BC under the direction of Emily Molnar in Vancouver, BC. He has performed works on international stages by Crystal Pite, Sharon Eyal, Merce Cunningham, Roy Assaf, and more. He has collaborated with the PARA.MAR Dance Theatre, Ballare Carmel located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, and the Bay Area’s Post:Ballet. Apart from dance, Buntrock is a stylist and movement director spanning multiple mediums. Most recently, he assisted movement direction for the critically praised Wiederhoeft fashion show at NYFW. This spring, Buntrock will debut a work commissioned by Montréal based circus performer Madi Ward for her digital art gallery Amphibious Duality . ZACHARY GONDER | DANCER Lyric debut Gonder began his training at the Chicago Academy for the Arts under the tutelage of Randy Duncan, and graduated from The Juilliard School in 2018 where he performed works by Austin McCormick, Aszure Barton, Pam Tanowitz, Richard Alston, Gustavo Ramirez Sansano, and Crystal Pite. He has recently performed with Pam Tanowitz Dance, Brian Brooks Moving Company, and PARA. MAR Dance Theatre. He has also danced for M3.Beyond - the Hong Kong Institute of Architects, the Mark Morris Dance Group, and Studio 189, among others. VERNON GOODEN | DANCER Lyric debut The Chicago-based choreographer, performer, and teacher is a graduate of the acclaimed Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing Visual Arts, and in 2001 was named a Presidential Scholar in the Arts. Gooden later trained at The Juilliard School under the direction of the late Benjamin Harkarvy and Larry Rhodes. He has performed with the Paul Taylor 2 Dance Company, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Theatre, Joel Hall Dancers, Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre, Winifred Haun & Dancers, and Chicago Repertory