ABOUT IAN
Ian Rucker is a baritone from Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with a rich and varied artistic background. This includes taking piano lessons, playing in local bands, choir, a cappella groups, straight theatre, and musical theatre.
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Opera and classical technique was introduced to Ian during his time at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, where he was initially enrolled as a Music Education major. Eau Claire was a place where Ian was able to expand upon his passions that made up his musical foundation, as well as finding himself in the operatic genre. He performed roles in both Opera and Musical theatre shows, participated in choir and a cappella, and played keyboard and sang in student formed funk bands.
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Ian's time at Indiana University is where his dedication to opera became certain. He was an avid performer at the school playing leading roles in multiple operas. Since then he has had the privilege of performing all over the United States and Europe, just coming out of a big debut as Billy Budd in a new re-telling of the Herman Melville story titled The Story of Billy Budd, Sailor, composed by Oliver Lieth.
Ian Rucker is a baritone from Oshkosh, Wisconsin. He recently finished his tenure as part of the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Ryan Opera Center. He was featured at Lyric as Moralés in Carmen, and Man in Bar in Champion. As a cover, Ian has jumped in as Conte Almaviva in the final dress of Le Nozze di Figaro, Raimbaud in Le Comte Ory, and the Stařek in Jenůfa. He also portrayed Schaunard in Lyric’s production of La Bohème in 2025. Before being a part of the Ryan Opera Center, he was an apprentice artist with Palm Beach Opera for their 60th anniversary season, as well as a Renée Fleming Artist at the Aspen Summer Music Festival. It was at both of these programs that he was able to work with many well-renowned performers, teachers, coaches, and conductors in the opera, classical music, and musical theatre community. lan graduated with his Masters Degree in Vocal Performance from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music in 2021. An avid performer there - under the tutelage of Carol Vaness - he was featured as Count Almaviva in The Marriage of Figaro in 2019, Figaro in The Barber of Seville in 2020, and Papageno in The Magic Flute in September of 2021. During his undergrad at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, under the instruction of Kenneth Pereira, he performed roles in both Opera and Musical Theatre productions: The title roles in both Don Giovanni and Sweeney Todd, and Officer Lockstock in Urinetown. He was awarded as a finalist of the 2024 NEUE STIMMEN competition by Dominique Meyer and Evamaria Wieser. Other competition credits include: Encouragement Awards for the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition in both the Wisconsin and Georgia District, 1st place in the James Toland Vocal Arts Competition, and 2nd in the Opera Mississippi John Alexander National Vocal Competition.
EDUCATION
YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS
2015-2019
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Under the instruction of Kenneth Pereira, he performed roles in both Opera and Musical Theatre productions: The title roles in both Don Giovanni and Sweeney Todd, and Officer Lockstock in Urinetown.
BM Vocal Performance
2019 - 2021
Indiana University Jacobs School of Music
An avid performer there - under the instruction of Carol Vaness, and acting coach Michael Shell - he was featured as Count Almaviva in The Marriage of Figaro in 2019, Figaro in The Barber of Seville in 2020, and Papageno in The Magic Flute in September of 2021.
MM Vocal Performance
2021
Aspen Summer Music Festival
While covering the role of Papageno in "The Magic Flute", Ian had the chance to work with many teachers and coaches in both operatic and musical theatre repetoire. Ian was featured in weekly masterclasses, including a public masterclass with Renée Fleming herself. He was featured in recital with American violinist Robert McDuffie, performing the piece "The Long Shadow of Lincoln" by Stephen Paulus
Renee Fleming Artist
2021-22
Palm Beach Opera
While being tasked with covering roles such as Zuniga in "Carmen" and Vicomte Cascada in "The Merry Widow", as well as singing in the opera choruses for the season, Ian received extensive high-quality training from many teachers and coaches.
Apprentice Artist
2022-2025
Lyric Opera of Chicago
Under the instruction of pianist and coach Craig Terry, and soprano Julia Faulkner, the time spent here pushed Ian to the next level. Throughout his time there, he also received high-quality training from many different teachers and coaches. He recorded many recital programs, and performed multiple times throughout the city of Chicago. His Lyric Opera of Chucago debut came as a jump-in as Raimbaud in Rossini's "Le Comte Ory" in 2022, where he performed 4 of the 5 shows, sharing the stage with opera giants Lawrence Brownlee and Kathryn Lewek. Other jump-ins include as the Foreman in Janacek's "Jenufa" and as Il Conte in Mozart's "Le Nozze di Figaro". He finished his time there with a very successful run of "La Bohéme" as Schaunard.
Ryan Opera Center Ensemble Member