Ryan Townsend Strand, tenor, is a Minnesota native whose "beautiful vocalism" (San Francisco Chronicle) and "expressive poise” (Chicago Classical Review) have afforded him an expanding career as a concert and oratorio soloist. Strand most recently was a featured soloist performing Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with the Illinois Philharmonic. Highlights of the 2024-2025 season include a featured recital with the Ravinia Festival at Bennett Gordon Hall in November, chamber performances with Madison Bach Musicians in December, and Dido & Aeneas with Bella Voce in April. 

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Strand most recently performed his onstage chorus debut with Lyric Opera of Chicago in their season productions of Der fliegende Holländer and Aida. Strand made his professional Chicago opera debut in Haymarket Opera Company’s production of Alessandro Scarlatti’s Gli equivoci nel sembiante (Armindo). In the fall of 2020, he premiered Acis & Galatea in HD (Chorus, Acis Cover) as part of “a sparkling group of singers,” (Hyde Park Herald). He returned to Haymarket for their production of Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea in September 2022 as Primo Soldato. Other operatic productions include Handel’s Beauty’s Truth (Pleasure) & Così fan tutte (Ferrando) with Transgressive Theater-Opera & Elmhurst Symphony; Mark Adamo’s Little Women (Laurie), Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea (Nero), and Ricky Ian Gordon’s The Grapes of Wrath (Al Joad) with Northwestern Opera Theater. With Chicago Opera Theater, he was seen in Jake Heggie’s Moby Dick and has sung other chorus roles in productions of Philip Glass’ The Perfect American, Mozart’s Lucio Silla, and Bloch’s Macbeth. Strand most recently performed his onstage chorus debut with Lyric Opera of Chicago in their season productions of Der fliegende Holländer and Aida.

Strand has sung with the Grammy award-winning contemporary vocal ensemble The Crossing in Philadelphia under the direction of Donald Nally. He performs regularly with Music of the Baroque, Chicago Symphony Chorus, Stare at the Sun, Bella Voce, and the Grant Park Festival Chorus. Strand is a founding member and executive director of Constellation Men’s Ensemble, celebrating their tenth season as Chicago’s premier tenor/bass ensemble.