Ian Rucker

The baritone Ian Rucker comes from Oshkosh (Wisconsin). He is currently a member of the Ryan Opera Center at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, where he has appeared as Moralès (Carmen), Man in Bar in Terence Blanchard’s Champion, Raimbaud (Le Comte Ory) and Foreman (Jenůfa). In 2025 he will sing Schaunard (La bohème) in Chicago.

In the 2021/22 season he participated in the Bailey Apprentice Artist Program of Palm Beach Opera and the Aspen Opera Theater and VocalARTS Program under the directorship of Renée Fleming.

Ian Rucker graduated with a Master’s degree from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University Bloomington in 2021. While a student he appeared in university productions under the direction of Carol Vaness, in parts including Count Almaviva (Le nozze di Figaro), Figaro (Il barbiere di Siviglia) and Papageno (Die Zauberflöte).

He previously studied at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire with Kenneth Pereira and appeared there in the title roles of Don Giovanni and Sweeney Todd and as Officer Lockstock in the musical Urinetown.

Ian Rucker is currently a finalist in the ‘Neue Stimmen‘ Competition. His past awards include the Encouragement Award from the Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition of the Metropolitan Opera, first prize in the James Toland Vocal Arts Competition and second prize in the John Alexander National Vocal Competition of Opera Mississippi.