American countertenor Ryan Belongie is rapidly garnering critical acclaim for his "oft-astounding vocalism," (San Francisco Classical Voice) artistry that paints "many an exquisite shade," (Opera News) and his "mesmerizing stage presence." (IONARTS)

Ryan Belongie, an Adler Fellow at San Francisco Opera, began the 2011-2012 season singing Bernstein's Chichester Psalms and Bach's Cantata 170 Vergnügte Ruh with the Grant Park Orchestra in Pritzker Pavillion. He covers the role of Arsamene in Xerxes with San Francisco Opera, appears in the annual Adler Fellows Gala concert with the San Francisco Opera Orchestra, and makes his debut with the Seattle Symphony in Handel's Messiah as well as his debut with Lyric Opera of Chicago as the magician in Rinaldo. In the spring he joins the roster of Canadian Opera Company for Semele.

The 2010-2011 season began with Mr. Belongie singing the role of Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream with Wolf Trap Opera. He covered the role of Lychas in Hercules with Lyric Opera of Chicago, sang the role of Arsemene in Xerxes with Alan Curtis at Berkeley Opera, appeared in the annual Adler Fellows Gala Concert with the San Francisco Opera Orchestra and made his European debut in Norway singing the role of Didymus in Theodora with Opera Bergen. In December he returned to Alonzo King LINES ballet in Lyon, France to reprise the soloist role he created in San Francisco in a new piece by Mr. King. Concert appearances included Purcell's Ode to St. Cecilia and the Spirit in Dido and Aeneas with Jane Glover and Music of the Baroque, Gesualdo's Responsoria with Il Complesso Barocco conducted by Alan Curtis in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, as well as a recital sponsored by the Shoshana Foundation.

As a first-year Adler Fellow with the San Francisco Opera, Mr. Belongie performed in scenes as Endimione in La Calisto and in the title role in scenes from Giulio Cesare. As a member of the 2009 Merola Opera Program he sang the title role in scenes from Orfeo ed Euridice and sang Arsemene in scenes from Xerxes. In concert he has recently appeared as a soloist with the Grant Park Music Festival in Bernstein's Missa Brevis and as Secresie in Purcell's The Fairy Queen with Music of the Baroque. He has been heard on Chicago's classical music station WFMT in numerous performances with Music of the Baroque, performed a solo recital on the network's series, "Live from WFMT," and has appeared on PBS across the United States in A Renaissance Christmas.

In addition to being a two-time national semi-finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions (2009, 2010) Ryan Belongie was the recipient of a 2011 career grant from the Metropolitan Opera, winner of the 2009 Lola Fletcher award from the American Opera Society, the recipient of a 2010 Shouse Career Grant, and the recipient of a 2009 and 2010 Richard F. Gold career grant from the Shoshana Foundation. Mr. Belongie is a graduate of the Vocal Honors Program at Northwestern University.