Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Music Institute of Chicago have announced a new multifaceted partnership launching in the 2026-27 season.

The collaboration introduces four distinct programs. As part of Lyric’s longstanding Opera in the Neighborhoods initiative, short operatic performances will be presented annually at Nichols Concert Hall. Select Music Institute string students will also have the opportunity to observe Lyric mainstage orchestra readings led by Music Director Enrique Mazzola, offering an inside look at the professional rehearsal process across contrasting operatic styles.

A new emerging artist recital series will debut at Nichols Concert Hall, showcasing rising operatic talent. Artists from The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center will perform in one of the series’ recitals. The partnership will also feature an artist talk in which Mazzola and Ryan Opera Center artists engage directly with Music Institute high school students on topics ranging from conservatory preparation to navigating early careers in music.

“Collaboration is central to our mission, and this partnership with Lyric Opera of Chicago creates extraordinary opportunities for current students, existing and expanded school partnerships, and community members of all ages,” said Music Institute President and CEO Shalisa Kline Ugaz, per an official press release.

“Partnering with the Music Institute allows us to extend the reach of opera in meaningful and lasting ways,” added Lyric General Director John Mangum. “By connecting even more students and emerging artists with the resources and expertise of Lyric, we are not only opening doors to this art form, but also helping to cultivate the next generation of performers and audiences across our city.”

Founded in 1931, the Music Institute of Chicago provides personalized music instruction to more than 1,500 students annually across locations in Chicago, Evanston, Downers Grove, Lake Forest, and Winnetka, and welcomes more than 15,000 visitors each year to Nichols Concert Hall.

Lyric Opera of Chicago, led by General Director John Mangum and Music Director Enrique Mazzola, has long been one of America’s flagship opera companies and home to the Ryan Opera Center, established in 1974.