IanRucker

American baritone Ian Rucker is in his third and final season as an ensemble member with the Ryan Opera Center at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. His recent appearances at the Lyric include The Foreman (Jenufa) and Raimbaud (Le Comte Ory), both of which he jumped in for as cover, as well as Man in Bar (Champion), and Moralés (Carmen). In the remainder of the 2024/25 season sees him perform as Schaunard in Puccini’s La Bohème. Ian was recently a prize winner in the final of the highly acclaimed Neue Stimmen vocal competition, and he sang the role of Diener IV in Strauss’ Capriccio at the 2024 Salzburg Festival. His future plans outside Chicago include Demetrius in the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis' 2025 production of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

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 roles such as Ernst Ludwig (Cabaret), Officer Lockstock (Urinetown), and the title roles in both Sweeney Todd and Don Giovanni. He studied his masters in Vocal Performance 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 (Le nozze di Figaro), Papageno (Die Zauberflöte), and Figaro (Il barbiere di Siviglia).

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

Ian's competition success includes 1st Prize in Tier II of the James Toland Vocal Arts Competition, 2nd in the young artist tier of the James Alexander Vocal Competition with Mississippi Opera, and encouragement awards in both the Wisconsin and Georgia districts of the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition.