Lyric Opera’s Resident Artist Program was inaugurated in the 2016–2017 season. Postgraduate singers and pianists are chosen following a series of local and national auditions. During their residency, Resident Artists appear in mainstage roles; serve as performing resources for education and community engagement initiatives; work with visiting guest artists, conductors, and directors; participate in masterclasses and career coaching; receive voice lessons and vocal coaching; and study leading roles. Resident Artists also receive training in acting, movement, and stage combat under the guidance of industry professionals. Many Lyric Opera Resident Artist alumni maintain professional careers in the industry.
Applications to Lyric Opera’s Resident Artist Program are accepted on an annual basis. Visit this page for more information.
Lyric Opera’s Resident Artist Program is sponsored by the estate of Richard Hill, charter sponsor; the Ingram Family Foundation; and a generous anonymous donor.
2023–2024 RESIDENT ARTISTS
Kelli Van Meter, Soprano
Soprano Kelli Van Meter’s (they/she) recent engagements include the Charlotte Street Foundation’s New Music Compositions concert which showcased original scores exploring queer themes, soloist in Handel’s Messiah with Kansas City Symphony, and featured soloist with the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory Orchestra and Hastings Symphony Orchestra. Notable roles include the title role in Suor Angelica, Judith (Bluebeard’s Castle), Alice Ford (Falstaff), Rosalinde (Die Fledermaus), Arminda (La finta giardiniera), Gretel (Hansel and Gretel), Elle (La voix humaine), and Violetta (La traviata). Awards include first place in the UMKC Chancellor’s Competition and Naftzger Young Artist Competition. Van Meter received their degrees in voice performance from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and University of Kansas under the mentorship of Maria Kanyova.
Christine Boddicker, Mezzo-Soprano
Mezzo-soprano Christine Boddicker made her professional debut in 2022 with Indianapolis Opera as a fall Resident Artist. Boddicker has been a Young Artist with Janiec Opera Company of the Brevard Music Center, Opera Steamboat, Miami Music Festival, and Chicago Summer Opera. Notable roles include Sesto (La clemenza di Tito), Angelina (Cinderella), Sesto (Giulio Cesare), and Mercédès (Carmen). Boddicker’s competition accolades include finalist in the 2022 San Antonio Tuesday Musical Club Young Artist Competition, semi-finalist in the 2022 and 2023 Saengerbund Awards, and the first-place award in the 2021 MIOpera Vocal Competition. She received her master’s degree in performance from the University of Houston and her bachelor’s degree in performance from Michigan State University.
Benjamin Ruiz, Tenor
Tenor Benjamin Ruiz made his European debut with Mittelsächsisches Theater as Polizist (Brundibár) and Profesor Würchem (Der Vogelhändler). Notable roles include L’Italien (Angélique), John Styx (Orpheus in the Underworld), Aeneas (Dido and Aeneas), Witch (Hansel and Gretel), Peter Quint (Turn of the Screw), and Young LBJ in the world premiere of Lady Bird: First Lady of the Land. Ruiz was named a first prize winner of the Inaugural Duncan Williams International Voice Competition, an Encouragement Award Winner of the 2023 Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, and an award winner of the 2023 Alan M. and Joan Taub Ades Vocal Competition. Ruiz was recipient of the Edgar Foster Daniels Foundation Scholarship in Voice at Manhattan School of Music from 2021-2023. Ruiz holds a master’s degree in voice performance from the Manhattan School of Music.
José Oliváres, Bass-Baritone
Bass-Baritone Jose Olivares’ recent roles include Simone (Gianni Schicchi), Horace Vandergelder (Hello, Dolly!), Pandolfe (Cinderella), and Holborn Gaines (The Manchurian Candidate) with Seagle Festival, and Dulcamara (The Elixir of Love) and Colline (La bohéme) with Opera Magnifico. Other roles include Dr. Gregg (Gallantry), Kapo (The Path to Heaven), Germano (La scala di seta), Olin Blitch (Susannah), soloist in Handel’s Messiah, Dubois’ Seven Last Words, and Hayes’ Requiem. Olivares holds a master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma.
Jimin Seo, Coach-Accompanist
Performer, conductor, vocal coach, and collaborative pianist Jimin Seo joined Indianapolis Opera as a resident artist in 2018. In 2015, she was a finalist in the American Choral Directors Association Student Conducting Competition. Seo earned her Bachelor of Music in conducting with minors in organ and voice from Yonsei University. She holds a Master of Music in choral conducting, collaborative piano, and orchestral conducting from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and is currently pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts in orchestral conducting and collaborative piano at the University of North Texas.
