Ian Greenlaw, D.M.A.

About Ian

Dr. Ian Greenlaw applies his over 20 years of experience as a professional opera singer to his work as a vocal instructor and opera director, merging the theatrical and musical needs of singers under his direction into the art form that he holds dear. He has performed a wealth of principal roles with opera companies on both sides of the Atlantic. These include New York’s Metropolitan Opera, Milan’s Teatro alla Scala, the Palau de les Arts in Valencia, Spain, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Pittsburgh Opera, Kentucky Opera, Michigan Opera Theater, Opera Colorado, and Opera Theatre of St. Louis, to name a few. A gifted concert artist, Greenlaw has performed as a soloist with the New York Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Dallas Symphony, the National Symphony Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Saint Louis Symphony. Having worked alongside giants in the field of opera, such as Lorin Maazel, Pierre Boulez, James Levine, and Tito Capobianco, Greenlaw is grateful for opportunities to share the wealth of his experience with a new generation of opera singers.

Greenlaw was on the roster of the Marilyn Horne Foundation, under whose auspices he performed his debut recital at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Concert Hall, was a young artist at Lyric Opera Cleveland, Pittsburgh Opera, and Lyric Opera of Chicago. His experiences at the Interlochen Center for the Arts began when he attended the Interlochen Arts Academy as a high school student. Along with performances at the Interlochen Arts Camp, he has been an Instructor of Voice and Director of Opera Scenes for the past six summers.

Greenlaw has degrees from the Eastman School of Music, the University of North Carolina-Greensboro, and the University of Michigan, where he received his doctorate.

There is often a time in an artist’s life when the notion that their art is bigger than they are comes into play. Recognizing this tipping point in my students—and nurturing it—is one of my greatest joys as a teacher. I aim to equip students with the tools to become versatile, innovative, and socially conscious artists so that they can envision their art as something that is valued and needed in today’s world.