gary ruschman | biography
Hailed by the San Francisco Chronicle as "funny and fresh-voiced", Gary Ruschman enjoys
a diverse musical career, appearing regularly in concert, opera, jazz, theatre, studio, and
chamber music settings, but with special love for contemporary and historically informed
performance.
Currently in his seventh season with CANTUS, Gary performs and teaches frequently at major venues throughout the United States and abroad, and serves on the ensemble's Artistic Council. He served for two years on the Cantus Board of Directors.
The Kentucky native's solo engagements include American Bach Soloists, San Francisco Opera Center, the San Francisco Song Festival, Portland Opera (Mary Stuart Rogers Fellow), San Francisco Opera Guild, Berkeley Opera, Ballet San Jose, California Bach Society, Minnesota's Voices of Vienna, St. John's Music Series, House of Hope's Music at Four Series, California Chamber Symphony, West Bay Opera, as well as the Mendocino, Lake Tahoe, and numerous other music festivals. During his tenure with Cantus, he has soloed with the Boston Pops and Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra.
Recent oratorio performances include Judas Maccabaeus, Messiah, Mozart's Requiem, Carmina Burana, Elijah, The Creation, Britten's Serenade, Monteverdi Christmas Vespers, Bach's B Minor Mass and several cantatas, Saint Saens' Oratorio de Noel, Rossini's Stabat Mater, and an appearance in UCTV national telecasts of Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass.
His performances include principal light lyric and character tenor roles in thirty operas, musicals, and plays. Favorite roles include Tamino (Die Zauberflote), Ferrando (Cosi fan tutte), Lindoro (Italian Girl in Algiers), Lurcanio (Ariodante), Nanki-Poo (The Mikado), Spoletta (Tosca), and the title role of Rossini's Count Ory. He also created roles in David Conte's Gift of the Magi, Carla Lucero's Wuornos, Guillermo Galindo/Anne Carson's Decreation: Fight Cherries, and Hector Armienta's Los Coyotes y las Conejas.
Pop and jazz appearances include NYCs Birdland, Cincinnati's Blue Wisp, San Francisco's Beach Chalet and Paradise Lounge, and back-up vocals with Pray for Rain, Andy Williams and Marcel Khalife. His discography includes albums with Cantus, American Bach Soloists, Gyan Riley, Miya Masaoka, Scott de Turk, Christopher Winslow, and Zikzak.
Mr. Ruschman earned music degrees with honors from Northern Kentucky University and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. His critically-acclaimed vocal, choral, and popular arrangements have been heard throughout the United States.
Currently in his seventh season with CANTUS, Gary performs and teaches frequently at major venues throughout the United States and abroad, and serves on the ensemble's Artistic Council. He served for two years on the Cantus Board of Directors.
The Kentucky native's solo engagements include American Bach Soloists, San Francisco Opera Center, the San Francisco Song Festival, Portland Opera (Mary Stuart Rogers Fellow), San Francisco Opera Guild, Berkeley Opera, Ballet San Jose, California Bach Society, Minnesota's Voices of Vienna, St. John's Music Series, House of Hope's Music at Four Series, California Chamber Symphony, West Bay Opera, as well as the Mendocino, Lake Tahoe, and numerous other music festivals. During his tenure with Cantus, he has soloed with the Boston Pops and Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra.
Recent oratorio performances include Judas Maccabaeus, Messiah, Mozart's Requiem, Carmina Burana, Elijah, The Creation, Britten's Serenade, Monteverdi Christmas Vespers, Bach's B Minor Mass and several cantatas, Saint Saens' Oratorio de Noel, Rossini's Stabat Mater, and an appearance in UCTV national telecasts of Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass.
His performances include principal light lyric and character tenor roles in thirty operas, musicals, and plays. Favorite roles include Tamino (Die Zauberflote), Ferrando (Cosi fan tutte), Lindoro (Italian Girl in Algiers), Lurcanio (Ariodante), Nanki-Poo (The Mikado), Spoletta (Tosca), and the title role of Rossini's Count Ory. He also created roles in David Conte's Gift of the Magi, Carla Lucero's Wuornos, Guillermo Galindo/Anne Carson's Decreation: Fight Cherries, and Hector Armienta's Los Coyotes y las Conejas.
Pop and jazz appearances include NYCs Birdland, Cincinnati's Blue Wisp, San Francisco's Beach Chalet and Paradise Lounge, and back-up vocals with Pray for Rain, Andy Williams and Marcel Khalife. His discography includes albums with Cantus, American Bach Soloists, Gyan Riley, Miya Masaoka, Scott de Turk, Christopher Winslow, and Zikzak.
Mr. Ruschman earned music degrees with honors from Northern Kentucky University and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. His critically-acclaimed vocal, choral, and popular arrangements have been heard throughout the United States.