Ryan Townsend Strand, tenor, has been hailed as having "beautiful vocalism" (SF Chronicle) and "an attractive nimble tenor” (Chicago Classical Review). Strand is a graduate of Northwestern University where he received his Master’s of Voice & Opera. Strand has been a featured soloist under the direction of conductors Paul Agnew, Jane Glover, and William Jon Gray with Music of the Baroque in Chicago. A passionate performer of new music, Strand was most recently the tenor soloist in the Johannes-Passion with the Madison Bach Musicians. Fresh off his debut with Transgressive Theater-Opera singing Ferrando in their production of Cosi fan tutte, Strand is thrilled to be making his debut with Facility Theater on this production of David Lang's The Little Matchgirl Passion. Other opera credits include playing Laurie in American composer Mark Adamo’s Little Women, Nerone in Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea and Al Joad in Ricky Ian Gordon’s The Grapes of Wrath. With Chicago Opera Theater, Strand has sung chorus roles in Chicago Opera Theatre’s productions of Philip Glass’ The Perfect American, Mozart’s Lucio Silla, and Bloch’s Macbeth. He made his professional Chicago opera debut in Haymarket Opera’s production of Scarlatti’s Gli equivoci nel sembiante. Strand sings with the contemporary vocal ensemble The Crossing in Philadelphia under the direction of Donald Nally. Locally, Strand performs with Music of the Baroque, the Chicago Bach Project and the Grant Park Festival Chorus. He is a founding member of Constellation Men’s Ensemble based out of Chicago. www.facebook.com/ryantownsendstrand