Ian Rucker

Baritone

Ian Rucker is a baritone from Oshkosh, WI, under the tutelage of Carol Vaness. He is currently residing in West Palm Beach, Florida as an Apprentice Artist with Palm Beach Opera for their 60th anniversary season. After his work with Palm Beach Opera, he will be heading to Chicago to begin his time in the Ryan Opera Center’s Young Artist Program with the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

lan graduated with his Masters Degree in Vocal Performance from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music last spring. He is coming to Palm Beach Opera after a summer as a Renée Fleming Artist at the Aspen Summer Music Festival. He lived in Aspen, Colorado for two months and was featured in weekly masterclasses, concerts, and recitals. It was there that he was able to work with many well-renowned performers, coaches, and conductors in the opera, classical music, and musical theatre community. 

Ian was an avid performer at the Jacobs School of Music, being featured as Count Almaviva in The Marriage of Figaro in 2019, Figaro in The Barber of Seville in 2020, and most recently Papageno in The Magic Flute in September of 2021. It was at his undergrad at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, under the instruction of Kenneth Pereira, that he found his love for the spotlight. He performed roles in both Opera and Musical Theatre productions: The title roles in both Don Giovanni and Sweeney Todd, Officer Lockstock in Urinetown, and Ernst Ludwig in Cabaret.

Within the past few years, Ian has had some success in vocal competitions. He was awarded an Encouragement Award for the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition in both the WI  and GA District. He took 1st place in the James Toland Vocal Arts Competition, and is currently a finalist for the Opera Mississippi John Alexander National Vocal Competition.