Title: Teaching Artist of Voice

Office Location: FAC 240

Phone: (515) 271-4571

E-mail: andrew.ryker@drake.edu

Andrew Ryker, Baritone

Andrew Ryker received his master's degree in Vocal Performance from New England Conservatory where he was a student of John Moriarty and graduated with Academic Honors.  He has been heard with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Pops, College Light Opera Company, La Musica Lirica and Overture Productions.  Andrew was baritone soloist for Trinity Church's performances of Durufle's Requiem and Bach's Johannes Passion and his operatic roles have included Papageno (The Magic Flute), Marco (Gianni Schicchi), Silvio (Pagliacci), John Brooke (Little Women), Strephon (Iolanthe), St. Brioche (The Merry Widow), Don Alfonso (Cosi fan tutte), Le Suritendent (Cendrillon), Count Almaviva (Le Nozze di Figaro) and Jenik in the US premiere of Dvorak's Kral a Uhlir.  He also performed regionally in South Pacific, Titanic, The Scarlet Pimpernel, 42nd Street, Brigadoon and On the 20th Century with Alice Ripley.  In recital, Andrew regularly performs new compositions and has a particular interest in the socially-conscience theater music of Marc Blizstein, Paul Bowles and Kurt Weill.  He's sung in masterclasses with Pierre Vallet, Vinson Cole and Warren Jones and has been featured several times on the St. John's Concert Series as well as various gala performances throughout the Marché region of Italy.

Prior to his appointment at Drake, Ryker was a teaching fellow and stage director at New England Conservatory.  He continues to serve as the Artistic Director of Boston Opera Collaborative and has presented full productions of Don Giovanni, Carmen, The Crucible, The Magic Flute, A Little Night Music and Handel’s Alcina.  Andrew previously taught at the Walnut Hill School for the Arts, Illinois Central College and has given master classes at the Boston Arts Academy.  Andrew served as music director for productions of Ragtime, Godspell, The Apple Tree, Trial by Jury, Gallantry and Candide and as stage director, he was the recipient of the Goldovsky Directing Fellowship with the Harrower Opera Workshop in Atlanta.  His productions have been seen with the Yale Institute of Sacred Music, Intermezzo Chamber Opera, Eastern Nazarene College, Millikin University, MetroWest Opera, Boston Opera Collaborative and New England Conservatory.  Andrew was a Young Artist at Opera North and has been featured in the Boston Globe, The EDGE and Classical Singer Magazine.  His production of Benjamin Britten's Curlew River was named Boston's "Best Staged Opera of the Year" by the Boston Phoenix.