IanRucker

Lyric baritone Ian Rucker is an ensemble member with the Ryan Opera Center at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. At the Lyric, he was recently seen as The Foreman in Jenufa, Raimbaud in Le Comte Ory, and Moralés in Carmen, as well as the Young Man in Terrance Blanchard’s Champion.

Ian received his bachelors degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, under the instruction of baritone Kenneth J. Pereira. It was there that he performed various roles such as Ernst Ludwig in Cabaret, Officer Lockstock in Urinetown, and the title roles in both Sweeney Todd and Don Giovanni.

His masters in Vocal Performance was completed at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, under the tutelage of legendary soprano Carol Vaness. Here, he performed multiple leading baritone roles, including Conte Almaviva in Le Nozze di Figaro, Papageno in Die Zauberflöte, and Figaro in Il Barbiere di Siviglia.

Post-education credits include a summer spent at the Aspen Summer Music Festival as a Renée Fleming Artist, where he was seen in weekly aria and scene masterclasses - including a public masterclass led by Ms Fleming. The following season was spent in West Palm Beach as an Apprentice Artist with Palm Beach Opera.

Ian has top prizes at multiple competitions, including the James Toland Vocal Arts Competition and the young artist tier of the James Alexander Vocal Competition with Mississippi Opera, and has won encouragement awards in both the Wisconsin and Georgia districts of the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition.

Future engagements include the baritone soloist in Carmina Burana with the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra, and performing Diener IV in Capriccio at the Salzburg Festival.