A world-class bass-baritone. A showcase of rising vocal talent. A program spanning Wagner to Jake Heggie.
The Shepherd School of Music’s March 7 recital “Ryan McKinny & Friends” brought together the renowned Ryan McKinny and Shepherd School opera students for an evening performance in the Morrison Theater at Rice University’s Brockman Hall for Opera.
Presented as part of McKinny’s tenure along with his wife Tonya as the 2024-25 Aleko Endowed Artists, the recital showcased scenes from “The Flying Dutchman,” “Don Giovanni,” “Dead Man Walking” and more. Pianist Nino Sanikidze, artist teacher of opera studies at the Shepherd School, performed alongside the singers on stage.
The intimate staging directed by Tonya McKinny placed emphasis on vocal artistry and storytelling. A simple blue curtain framed the singers, whose subtle yet effective movement enhanced each scene. The evening reflected the McKinnys’ innovative approach to opera, which students had experienced firsthand in their recent master class.
“Working with Ryan and Tonya McKinny has been such a thrilling experience,” said Sophia Donelan, a graduate voice student. “Applying their acting technique has brought so much more specificity to my characters which has, in turn, brought more freedom to my singing. It was definitely a most memorable experience sharing the stage with Ryan McKinny.”
McKinny, who has performed leading roles on the world’s greatest stages, brought his wealth of experience to the recital. His selections included some of his most iconic roles such as his performance in “Dead Man Walking,” a work in which he premiered at the Metropolitan Opera. Students also took the stage in a mix of solos, duets and ensemble pieces, demonstrating the depth of talent within the Shepherd School’s opera program.
“Working with Ryan was one of the most valuable learning experiences of my life,” said graduate voice student Kanade Motomura. “Being able to perform alongside one of the world’s leading opera singers was truly a learn-by-doing experience, and it is a memory that I will cherish as an artist and performer forever.”
Sanikidze, who has known the McKinnys for two decades, reflected on the significance of the evening in a post she shared on social media.
“Ryan, Tonya and I met as fellows in Aspen in 2003,” she wrote. “In the following 20 years he often came to sing at LA Opera, starring in a wide repertoire from Handel and Mozart to Verdi and Puccini. In 2010, I was assigned to be his pianist for Operalia in La Scala, where he won the inaugural Birgit Nilsson Wagner Prize for his rendition of ‘Die Frist ist um.’ Tonight, in our magnificent Morrison Theater, together with the incredibly talented Shepherd School students, he performed scenes from some of his iconic roles.”
The Aleko Endowed Master Class Artist Series at the Shepherd School brings leading artists and teachers to campus to work with students. Past Aleko artists include Isabel Leonard, Joyce DiDonato, Renée Fleming, Jamie Barton and Tamara Wilson.
Learn about upcoming Shepherd School events here.