Lyric Opera 2025-2026 Issue 12 - Rising Stars

11 | Lyric Opera of Chicago Fond farewells As their tenures come to an end, outgoing Ryan Opera Center artists share highlights — and gratitude. Lyric Opera of Chicago Kyle Flubacker MICHAEL BANWARTH Working with artists the caliber of those in the Ryan Opera Center is a privilege that is difficult to fully articulate. The past three years have deepened my conception of the voice, of musical storytelling, and of artistic generosity. From playing rehearsals for Cav/Pag one day to recording R&B and jazz in the WFMT studio the next, I never knew precisely what a week in the program would entail, but I always knew it would involve incredibly rewarding (and often absurdly fun) music making. My time at Lyric has led to performances from Chicago to New York to Germany — and to developing musical partnerships and deep friendships that I hope will last for decades to come. Thank you to the teachers, coaches, and staff here for an unspeakably fulfilling three years, and a wider thank you to everyone who supports emerging artists in opera and beyond! GEMMA D e CETRA It has been such a privilege to be the Ryan Opera Center’s Ensemble Stage Manager over the last two years. I have gained so much knowledge from working with the team at Lyric, and I am deeply grateful for all the mentorship I have received in my time here. Working on such technical, large-scale productions was something I’d never done before — and the learning curve was intense — but the experience has given me the confidence to take on whatever comes next. Stage management has been my passion for many years; after my time in the Ryan Opera Center, I have also found a deeper respect and admiration for the artistry behind the role. I’m incredibly thankful to have had such a supportive group of colleagues, and my sincere gratitude to everyone who makes this program possible.