Will Ryan is a rising American bass praised for his "sonorous," warm voice and "commanding, witty presence" onstage (Cincinnati Business Courier Review). He is currently an Artist Diploma candidate at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where his recent roles include Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Harašta in The Cunning Little Vixen. He was previously lauded for his portrayal of Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte, noted for his “velvety, rich voice” and “restrained dignity” (Arts Knoxville) while pursuing his bachelor's degree at the University of Tennessee.

 

In 2026, Will returns to The Santa Fe Opera as an Apprentice Singer, singing the roles of Captain Petrovitch in Eugene Onegin and Second Priest in The Magic Flute and covering the Imperial Registrar and the Official in Madama Butterfly as well as King Christian X in Lili Elbe. Past engagements include covering the Sergeant in La bohème at The Santa Fe Opera and Flora's Servant (La traviata) at Cincinnati Opera. He also recently stepped into the world of musical theater to perform the role of Judge Turpin (Sweeney Todd) with CCM Opera, and also performed the role of The King in a workshop of Gregory Spears's new opera Sleepers Awake with Opera Fusion: New Works, commissioned by Opera Philadelphia.

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In competition, Will earned the Italo Tajo/Newberger Award in the CCM Corbett Competition and won an Encouragement Award in the Southeast Region of the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition after winning his district before.