Biography
“Captivating with [her] vocal power and lush sound” (W. Kromash, Evanston Roundtable), young mezzo soprano Grace Ryan is a national award winning artist, hailing originally from Chicago. She is pursuing her Masters of Music in Voice Performance at the University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theatre, and Dance, studying with acclaimed tenor Stanford Olsen. Operatic roles throughout her studies at U Michigan include Carmen in La Tragédie de Carmen, Hänsel in Hänsel und Gretel, Dorabella in Così fan tutte, Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro and Juno/Ino in Semele.Other notable performances include the premiere of the role Dharuna in Siddhartha, She (Theofanidis) in the University of Michigan’s OperaLab workshop of the new piece, the mezzo soloist in the Verdi Requiem with the University Symphonic Orchestra and Choir, the mezzo soloist in the University of Michigan Chamber Choir’s Duruflé Requiem, America: A Prophecy (Adès), and Lauda per la Natividad del Signore (Respighi).
Grace was thrilled to be a 2025 Summer Studio Artist with Florentine Opera, where she sang the role of the notorious RBG in Scalia/Ginsburg (Wang). Upon graduation, Grace will cover the title role in Fausto, an American premiere of the 1831 bel canto opera by Louise Bertin as a Studio Artist with Opera Neo in San Diego, CA, followed by performing as Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro as a Studio Artist with Finger Lakes Opera. Grace looks forward to announcing more upcoming engagements soon.
No stranger to the competition scene, most recently Grace was deeply honored to be named the winner of the 2026 International Luciano Pavarotti Foundation Opera Naples Voice Competition, after winning third place in the Midwest Region of the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition after winning the St. Louis District. Other awards include an Encouragement Award from the George and Nora London Opera Foundation, the Jessie Walker Memorial Award from the 2025 Opera Index competition, the winner of the University of Michigan Concerto Competition, first place in the University of Michigan Friends of Opera Competition in the Graduate division, second place in the Emerging Artist division of the Classical Singer National Vocal Competition, first place in the Charlotte Ruppel Memorial Voice Awards, the grand prize winner of Opera Grand Rapids’ Vanderlaan Prize and the first place recipient of Fox Valley Orchestra Voice Competition. She also was honored to receive an Encouragement Award in the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition in the Illinois district in 2023.
She received her degrees in Vocal Performance and Music Education at DePaul University in Chicago in 2024, where she studied with tenor Scott Ramsay. Within her undergraduate career, she performed extensively with DePaul Opera Theatre, as Nancy in Albert Herring (Britten), Presendia in Dark Sisters (Muhly), and Emma Jones in Street Scene (Weill). With extensive prior training in jazz and contemporary dance, she served as a Dance Captain within multiple productions. She was regularly featured as a soloist with DePaul Chamber Choir, DePaul Symphonic Orchestra, and the DePaul Baroque Ensemble. She also cross-trained in vocal jazz, singing with the DePaul Vocal Jazz ensemble. In the Chicagoland operetta scene, Grace performed as Tessa in The Gondoliers with the Savoyaires and in the chorus of H.M.S. Pinafore with the Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company. An advocate for sharing the arts with all, Grace served as a teaching artist through DePaul Community Music in Chicago Public Schools, providing free and accessible private music lessons to students of all backgrounds. She was also deeply proud to co-found the largest student-run musical theatre organization on DePaul’s campus, providing students from all degree paths with performance opportunities.
As a Chicago native, Grace has been thrilled to sing the Star Spangled Banner at Wrigley Field for the Chicago Cubs for three consecutive seasons. Outside of the world of opera, Grace has a strong background in musical theatre and dance, where she first fell in love with performing onstage, and has a passion for education and sharing the fine arts with the next generation.
When she is not singing, she’s spending time with her partner, their cat Millie, and their puppy Cannoli. She enjoys Pilates classes, dancing to ABBA music, and is always fighting to keep her 1,000+ day Duolingo streak alive.
