Ryan Townsend Strand, tenor, possesses a "beautiful vocalism" (San Francisco Chronicle) and "expressive poise” (Chicago Classical Review), which continue to bring this effective storyteller to the stage for opportunities in oratorio, ensemble, and operatic performances. The Minnesota-born tenor most recently was a featured soloist performing BWV 42 Am Abend aber desselbigen Sabbats with the Bach Cantata Vespers. Highlights of the 2025-2026 season include touring performances of Handel’s Messiah with Dame Jane Glover in Aspen and New York, a featured EarTaxi concert with Constellation Men’s Ensemble, and rejoining the Lyric Opera Chorus for performances of Orff’s Carmina Burana. 

Strand has been seen 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 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 Ensemble, celebrating their twelfth season as Chicago’s premier tenor/bass ensemble.