THE PATRICK G. AND SHIRLEY W.

RYAN OPERA
CENTER
AT LYRIC OPERA OF CHICAGO

Gianna Rolandi, Director

2010-2011 Ensemble
Preliminary Audition Application

The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center was established in 1974 as the professional artist-development
program for Lyric Opera of Chicago. Since its inception, the Ryan Opera Center has been recognized as one of the
premier programs of its kind in the world. That standing is maintained by providing the finest up-and-coming singers
with unparalleled training and experience.

A testament to the Ryan Opera Center’s caliber and success is the roster of distinguished alumni who perform
regularly on the stages of leading international opera houses. It includes Harolyn Blackwell, Nicole Cabell, David
Cangelosi, Mark S. Doss, Jennifer Dudley, Christopher Feigum, Elizabeth Futral, Joseph Kaiser, Maria Kanyova,
Gregory Kunde, Dina Kuznetsova, Cynthia Lawrence, Emily Magee, Susanna Phillips, Matthew Polenzani, Patricia
Risley, Erin Wall, and Guang Yang.

Preliminary auditions for the 2010-2011 Ensemble will be held in Chicago (only site) beginning in May 2009.
Successful candidates from the preliminary auditions will sing on the stage of Lyric Opera of Chicago in the final
auditions on September 13, 2009.

The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center admits persons of any race, color, and national or ethnic origin.
 A Comprehensive
Year-Round Program Preliminary Audition Dates
in 2009
* Participation in Lyric Opera of Chicago’s (with application deadlines)
International Season and leading roles in
Ryan Opera Center performances
* Voice lessons, acting, movement, and
audition classes with distinguished instructors
* Master classes and private coachings with Chicago, IL
many of opera’s greatest stars and master *(only audition site)*
teachers
* Audition opportunities with internationally-
renowned impresarios, conductors, stage May 20-24, 2009
directors, and artist representatives
* Daily repertoire coaching from acclaimed
(April 15)
resident staff of coaches and conductors
* Career counseling from leading experts in
various aspects of the opera field
July 10-13, 2009
* Intensive conversational language and lyric (May 29)
diction instruction
* Concert and recital opportunities in the
Chicago area
* First-year stipend of at least $38,000 plus
benefits
The National Auditions are sponsored by The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center is supported by

Official Airline of Lyric Opera of Chicago

Ryan Opera Center Audition Conditions
PRELIMINARY AUDITION APPLICATION

1. Applications must be e-mailed to atakushi@lyricopera.org by the application deadline and

include payment via credit card for the $25 application fee and a digital headshot. If you’d prefer to
provide credit card information over the phone, please indicate that on the line provided for the
number, and we will call you when we receive your application. If you’d prefer to pay by check or
money order, please label the payment with your name and phone number and mail to:

Alicia Takushi
The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center
20 N. Wacker Dr., Suite 860
Chicago, IL 60606

Applications without fee payment will not be accepted. Applications will not be received by phone.

2. Please fill out the application completely. A resume or bio will not be accepted in lieu of a
completed application form. Any extraneous data will be discarded. Failure to fill out the form
completely may prevent or delay the reservation of an audition time. All applications are considered
confidential and will not be returned.

3. Be sure to indicate the date and time you would like to audition. We will do our best to accommodate
your request. If you have a specific scheduling need, return your application as soon as possible. If
an audition site or day is full, or cancelled at the Ryan Opera Center’s discretion, you will be notified
of other options. All scheduled times are final.

4. If granted an audition, your $25 application fee will be processed and then is not
refundable. If no audition is granted, fee will not be processed.

5. You will receive an e-mail notice of your audition date and time approximately 2 weeks before the
audition date. Applicants unable to appear for their scheduled audition may be eliminated from
consideration.

6. Applicants should be prepared to sing five operatic arias; if appropriate, the recitative should be
included. At least one aria must be in Italian. Oratorio arias and songs are not acceptable for these
auditions.

7. Each audition will consist of singing one aria of your choice. If the judges wish to hear
another aria, they will choose one from your offered list. The Ryan Opera Center will supply an
accompanist for the audition; however, applicants may bring their own accompanist if they prefer.
The auditions may be videotaped by the Ryan Opera Center for reference purposes.

8. Result/status letters for the Preliminary Auditions will be postmarked by August 31, 2009.

9. Applicants must agree to abide by these Conditions and not make any claim against any party to the
auditions by reason of anything that may be done in connection with the auditions.

FINAL AUDITIONS

1. Phone invitations to the Final Auditions will be made by August 31, 2009.

2. Final auditions will be held in Chicago, September 9-13, 2009. Round trip air transportation from the
artist’s place of residence to Chicago and hotel accommodations for finalists will be provided by the
Ryan Opera Center.

3. Final auditions for the Ryan Opera Center are not a competition. They are auditions to fill the
performance requirements of the Ryan Opera Center and Lyric Opera of Chicago, as well as to
discover outstanding singers with major career potential and to provide them with training and
experience. The decision of the judges both at the preliminary and final auditions is final. Judges
 forms and comments are the sole property of the Ryan Opera Center and will not be made available
to applicants.

(continued)

Ryan Opera Center Audition Conditions

FOR ACCEPTANCE INTO THE 2010-2011 ENSEMBLE
1. If the artist is not prepared to participate in The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center
program for its entire period, April 2010 through April 2011, the artist should not apply for nor
participate in any phase of the auditions.
2. If accepted as a member of the Ryan Opera Center, the artist will be under exclusive contract
from April 2010 through April 2011 (exact dates to be determined), and may not accept any
other engagements or enter competitions without first obtaining written permission from the Ryan
Opera Center. If, prior to the artist being accepted as a member of the Ryan Opera Center, he or she
has been contracted for any engagements or entered any competitions which fall during the Ryan
Opera Center contract year, such engagements and/or competitions must be discussed with
the Ryan Opera Center director and written clearance secured before the artist participates
in the final auditions.
3. All ensemble members who do not already live in the Chicago area are expected to move to Chicago
or one of its immediate suburbs. The Ryan Opera Center will reimburse moving expenses up to
approximately $1,600 per member.
4. In order to rehearse and perform with Lyric Opera of Chicago, the artist must be a member in good
standing of the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA), the union for professional opera singers. If
not already a member, the artist will be expected to join AGMA.
5. All roles assigned to ensemble members by Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Ryan Opera Center will be
made strictly according to merit. An assignment of a role does not guarantee performance. Ensemble
members must demonstrate mastery of assignment(s) to the appropriate personnel before receiving
official notification of specific performance designation(s).
6. Attendance and promptness at all classes, coaching sessions, rehearsals, and performances is
mandatory.

REMINDERS

 The only audition site this year is Chicago-with auditions in May and July.
 Read the Conditions - even if you’ve applied before; rules and regulations may have changed.
 Fill out the form completely.
 Send in your application AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, especially if you have a specific date/time
request; sites often fill before the application deadline.
 Do NOT post-mail your application in addition to e-mailing it, even if you post-mail your fee payment.
 Send only the application, digital headshot, and $25 application fee payment. Please do NOT include
resume/vitae, biography, reviews, letters of recommendation, etc.
 The e-mail address listed on your application is how we will notify you of your audition date
& time. Be sure to check this address and take off any filters that may block an e-mail from
the Ryan Opera Center.
 Your audition will consist of one aria of your choice. At their discretion, the judges may ask
for a second aria.
 For further inquiries, please call (312) 827-3521.
Return only pages 4-5 PLEASE READ THE “CONDITIONS” ON THE PREVIOUS
PAGES CAREFULLY BEFORE COMPLETING THIS FORM.

THE PATRICK G. AND SHIRLEY W. RYAN

OPERA CENTER E-mail Microsoft Word or .pdf document
to: atakushi@lyricopera.org
2010-2011 ENSEMBLE
PRELIMINARY AUDITION APPLICATION (Review page 2 for payment options.)

FOR OFFICE USE ONLY

Audition city, dates, and
application deadlines:
Chicago, IL
Fee Received Photo

May 20, 21, 22, 23, & 24, 2009

(April 15, 2009)

July 10, 11, 12, & 13, 2009 Audition Day/Time

(May 29, 2009)

AUDITION and PERSONAL INFORMATION BILLING INFORMATION

AUDITION CITY CHICAGO, IL $25 APPLICATION FEE PAYMENT VIA CREDIT CARD

PREFERRED DATE/TIME
ALL OF THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION MUST BE INCLUDED:
LEGAL LAST NAME
CARD TYPE (underline) VISA MC AMEX DISC
FIRST NAME MIDDLE (opt)
PROFESSIONAL NAME CARD NUMBER

VOICE TYPE (underline) Sop Mz Tnr Bar BsBar Bs EXPIRATION DATE

AUDITIONED BEFORE? NAME OF CARDHOLDER

IF YES, WHICH YEAR(S)? *If preferred, payment may be made by check/money order,
payable to: Lyric Opera of Chicago. See page 2 for post-mail
address.
HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE RYAN OPERA CENTER?

MAILING ADDRESS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2009 TELEPHONE (Please list at least one)

ADDRESS CELL

CITY, STATE, ZIP OTHER

ALTERNATE ADDRESS (Dates in use: to

)
E-MAIL**
ADDRESS
 **Must include as audition notification will
CITY, STATE, ZIP arrive via e-mail.

ARE YOU A U.S. CITIZEN?

IF NO, ARE YOU AUTHORIZED TO WORK IN THE U.S.?

(continue to page 5)
EDUCATION AND VOICE STUDIES

UNIVERSITY MAJOR DEGREE YEAR

GRADUATE SCHOOL MAJOR DEGREE YEAR

POST GRADUATE STUDY UNIVERSITY YEAR(S)

OTHER INSTRUMENTS STUDIED (i.e. violin, bassoon, piano, etc.)

OPERA TRAINING PROGRAMS VOICE TEACHER(S) DATES OF STUDY

COMPANY DATE(S)

VOCAL COACH(ES) DATES OF STUDY

PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE - Please list the 5 most recently completed or upcoming roles (may include college/conservatory)

Opera or Musical Role/Language Company Dates

FIVE OPERATIC ARIAS PREPARED FOR AUDITION - One must be in Italian; German, English, French suggested for remainder.

Aria Opera Composer Language

Italian

** Your audition will consist of one aria of your choice. **

At their discretion, the judges may ask for a second aria.

I have read all the “Conditions” on the accompanying pages carefully and agree to be governed by them. I understand
that The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center staff may wish to verify any and all information provided by me
in the above application. I permit any inquiry into facts included in this document and approve of the release of
necessary information from any of the institutions and organizations mentioned in this application. I authorize Lyric
Opera of Chicago to charge the $25 application fee to the credit card number listed above.

I have included (please “x” all that apply):

$25 Fee Payment Info Completed Application Digital Headshot

Date Signed/Typed

NOTE: If applicant is granted an audition, the $25 application fee will be processed and then is not refundable. If
no audition is granted, fee will not be processed.

END OF APPLICATION