Lyric Opera Auditions

Thank you for your interest in auditioning for Lyric Opera of Chicago. Here you will find current audition opportunities across the company.

Singers and instrumentalists wishing to receive audition information from Lyric Opera of Chicago or The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center may contact the appropriate administrators as follows:

The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center is pleased to announce that applications are open for the following Ensemble positions:

2025/26 Ensemble Singers 

Apply Now for 2025/26 Singers

2025/26 Ensemble singer applications are now being accepted. Applications are free and must be submitted via YAP Tracker. If you do not have a YAP Tracker account, register for free at www.yaptracker.com. 

The approximate contract dates for the 2025/26 Ensemble are May 12, 2025 through April 25, 2026 (to be confirmed), with an option for renewal as the positions are expected to have a two-year residency. Apply today through YAP Tracker and find application details here.

The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center is an equal opportunity employer/program. The Ryan Opera Center encourages qualified artists from historically underrepresented groups, including but not limited to those who identify as Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Color, to apply for its Ensemble.

For questions, please contact Susanna McNatt, Ryan Opera Center Manager, smcnatt@lyricopera.org, 312-827-3510.

There are no chorus auditions currently scheduled.

There are no Lyric Unlimited auditions currently scheduled.

Lyric Opera of Chicago's music staff consists of cover conductors, répétiteurs, and prompters. If you you like to be considered for a position on Lyric Opera's music staff, please email your résumé and references to orchaud@lyricopera.org. If you are interested in cover conducting and have conducting reels available to you, please be sure to include them.

Alternate contact information is:
Lyric Opera of Chicago
Music Staff Auditions
20 N. Wacker Drive, Ste. 860
Chicago, IL 60606

There are no musical theater auditions currently scheduled.

There are currently no upcoming orchestra auditions scheduled.

If you are interested in being considered for Lyric Opera of Chicago's "substitute" musicians list, you may send your résumé at any time.

If you would like to be considered as a substitute musician, or would like more information regarding the open position(s) within the orchestra, please email orchaud@lyricopera.org with inquiries.

Some productions may require individuals with special talents to perform on stage, including:

• Ballet
• Children's Chorus
• Supernumeraries ("extras")
• Actors

Auditions for these roles are conducted on an "as needed" basis only; to find out about current/upcoming opportunities, please call the Audition Hotline at 312.827.3548. 

Lyric grants auditions for principal roles to professional opera singers on an invitation-only basis. The artist's management should contact Lyric's Artistic Administrator or email soloaud@lyricopera.org with requests for an audition.

To obtain an information packet about becoming a supernumerary at Lyric Opera of Chicago, please send your information to Bill Walters, super captain, at bwalters@lyricopera.org.

For additional information, please call the supernumerary hotline at 312.827.3538.

Photo: Todd Rosenberg