“Captivating with [her] vocal power and lush sound” (W. Kromash, Evanston Roundtable), mezzo soprano Grace Ryan is a national award winning young artist, hailing originally from the Chicagoland area. She is currently 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 within her time at Michigan include Hänsel in Hänsel und Gretel, Dorabella in Così fan tutte, Dharuna in Siddhartha, She (Theofanidis) in the University of Michigan’s OperaLab workshop of the new piece, Cherbino in Le nozze di Figaro, Carmen in La Tragédie de Carmen (Brook/Bizet), & Juno/Ino in Semele. She was featured as the mezzo soloist the University of Michigan Chamber Choir’s Duruflé Requiem, Lauda per la Natividad del Signore (Resphigi), and America: A Prophecy (Adès). She will sing her first Verdi Requiem this spring with the University of Michigan Symphonic Orchestra and Choir. Grace was the winner of both the 2026 University of Michigan Concerto Compeititon and the 2025 University of Michigan Friends of Opera Competition.

Outside of school, Grace has appeared extensively on the compeititon scene, most recently recieving third place in the Midwest Region of the Laffont Metropolitan Opera Compeititon, after winning the St. Louis District. She was the recipient of the Jessie Walker Memorial Award from the 2025 Opera Index Competition, second place in the Classical Singer National Competition in the emerging artists division, first place recipient of the Betty Ruppell 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. 

Upcoming engagements include Studio Artist positions at both Opera Neo and Finger Lakes Opera this summer, covering the title role in Louise Bertin's Fausto with Opera Neo and singing Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro with FLO. Last summer, Grace was thrilled to be a 2025 Summer Studio Artist with Florentine Opera Company in Milwaukee, making her professional debut singing the role of the notorious Justice Ruth Bader-Ginsburg in Scalia/Ginsburg (Wang). 

Grace 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). She was regularly featured as a soloist with DePaul Chamber Choir, DePaul Symphonic Orchestra and the DePaul Baroque Ensemble.  In the Chicagoland opera 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. At DePaul, Grace cross-trained in vocal jazz, performing with the university Vocal Jazz Ensemble, and co-founded the university's largest musical theatre student organization, providing performance opportunities to non-majors. She also served as a Teaching Artist in Chicago Public Schools, providing private lessons in piano and voice to students of all backgrounds.

A Chicago native, Grace has been overjoyed to sing the Star Spangled Banner at Wrigley Field for the Chicago Cubs for three consecutive seasons in a row. Outside of the world of opera, Grace has a strong background in musical theatre and dance, and has a passion for education and sharing the fine arts with the next generation. When she is not performing, she loves Pilates classes, swimming, going on hikes with her partner and their puppy Cannoli, and hoping for a One Direction reunion.