MEGHAN RYAN, Mezzo-Soprano
B i o g r a p h y
Meghan graduated from the University of Connecticut studying under Dr. Constance Rock with her Master of Music degree. She received her music education certification from Central Connecticut State University and for several years she taught middle school vocal music in West Hartford, Connecticut. She also received her Bachelor of Music vocal performance degree from Boston University. While at BU she participated in the early music and opera departments, working with voice teacher Frank Kelley. Additionally she attended the Florence Voice Program where she studied with Laura Brooks-Rice.
Meghan has participated with groups including Boston's Emmanuel Music, Vancouver's Summer Opera Studio, Opera Theater of Connecticut, Greater Worcester Opera in MA, Pan Opera in MA, and Hartford Opera Theater.
She was a finalist in both the 2013 Connecticut Concert Opera: American Opera Idol Competition and The American Prize in Voice: Friedrich & Virginia Schorr Memorial Awards: Opera, University Division. She was also the mezzo-soprano winner for the 2013 Rhode Island Civic Chorale and Orchestra: Collegiate Vocal Solo Competition and a graduate winner for the University of Connecticut’s 2014 Concerto Competition.
Meghan’s previous roles include Meg March in Little Women with Hartford Opera Theater, Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro with the Vancouver Summer Opera Studio, Cherubino in the English translation of Le Nozze di Figaro with Greater Worcester Opera, Nancy in Albert Herring and Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia with University of Connecticut Opera Theater, and Nina in the U.S. premiere of Justin Dello Joio’s Blue Mountain with the University of Connecticut Wind Ensemble.
Meghan was chosen as a mezzo-soprano for a vocal apprenticeship at the 2016 Nahant Music Festival in Nahant, MA. While at this festival she sang the role of Dinah in Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti and participated in various other events. Additionally, Meghan was chosen as the mezzo-soprano participant for the 2017 Bach Institute at the Emmanuel Church in Boston where she sang selections from several Bach Cantatas and sung with the Emmanuel Music Choir.
Meghan has sung on three Bach Cantata CD's with Emmanuel Music musicians including soprano Kendra Colton and oboist Peggy Pearson. She also performs regularly with Boston Baroque and has been on the chorus roster since 2017. She recently sung the role of Second Priestess in the opera Iphigenie en Tauride last spring 2024 with Boston Baroque. Meghan is looking forward to singing as an alto chorus member on Haydn's Creation, Handel's Messiah, and the Handel opera Ariodante during the 2024 - 2025 season.
She was thrilled to be chosen as the alto fellow for the Bach Akademie of Charlotte, NC during June 2024. She sung works including Bach Cantata's BWV 1083 & BWV 37, a Renaissance Motet Concert with selections including Parry, Gombert, Wert, and Monteverdi's Vespers of 1610.
She has her CT music education teaching certificate from Central CT State University and currently teaches public elementary music in Avon, CT. She recently completed her Suzuki piano Book 1 teacher training and she completed her Suzuki voice Book 1 teacher training this summer 2024. She is looking forward to teaching Suzuki voice at the University of Hartford - Hartt School of Music's Community Division this coming year.
In her spare time, Meghan enjoys spending time with her family, teaching ZUMBA dance classes, exploring world music, and enjoying being in her garden outside.