Grace Ryan

Mezzo-soprano Grace Ryan is an international award-winning artist originally from Chicago. She recently completed her Master of Music degree in voice performance at the University of Michigan, where she studied with acclaimed tenor Stanford Olsen. She earned her undergraduate degrees in voice performance and music education from DePaul University in 2024, studying with tenor Scott Ramsay.

Her operatic roles include Hänsel in Hänsel und Gretel, Dorabella in Così fan tutte, Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro, Carmen in La Tragédie de Carmen, Juno/Ino in Semele, and Nancy in Albert Herring. In 2025, she was a Summer Studio Artist with Florentine Opera, where she performed the role of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in Scalia/Ginsburg.

This summer, she covers the title role in Fausto by Louise Bertin in its American premiere at Opera Neo as a Studio Artist, followed by performances as Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro with Finger Lakes Opera.

Grace is the recipient of numerous awards, including First Prize in the 2026 Luciano Pavarotti Foundation Opera Naples International Voice Competition; Third Place in the Midwest Regionals of the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, after winning the St. Louis District; the Jessie Walker Memorial Award from the 2025 Opera Index Vocal Competition; an Encouragement Award from the 2026 George & Nora London Foundation Competition; First Prize in the 2026 University of Michigan Concerto Competition; First Place in the University of Michigan Friends of Opera competition; and the Grand Prize of the Opera Grand Rapids VanderLaan Prize competition; among others.

She is thrilled to join the Detroit Opera Resident Artist Program for the 2026–27 season.