Tenor Eric Ferring, a native of Dubuque, Iowa, graduated magna cum laude from Drake University with his Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and The Boston Conservatory with his Master of Music in Opera Performance. He is a graduate of the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Ryan Opera Center and the Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artist Program, a 2022 George London Foundation Award Winner, and the Top Prize Winner of the 2022 Gerda Lissner Foundation International Vocal Competition.

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Eric Ferring’s 2022-23 engagements bring several exciting house and role debuts. He makes his first appearance at the Opéra national de Paris, as Lurcanio in Robert Carsen’s new production of Ariodante, conducted by Harry Bicket. He also makes his company debut at Opéra national du Rhin, singing Tamino in a new production of Die Zauberflöte, and returns to Opéra de Rouen as Lysander in Carsen’s iconic production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, conducted by Music Director Ben Glassberg. Ferring is also featured in recital at his alma mater Drake University, appearing as the featured artist for its distinguished Jordan Concert Series.

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His 2021-2022 season included appearances as Beppe in the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s filmed production of Pagliacci, his anticipated Metropolitan Opera debut singing Pong in Turandot, and further performances at the Met as Tamino in a holiday performance of The Magic Flute, Arturo in a new production of Lucia di Lammermoor, and a Royal Herald in Don Carlos. In the summer of 2022, he recorded an album entitled No Choice but Love with Delos Records, performed Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with Spoleto Festival USA, and made his debut at Santa Fe Opera, singing Fenton in Sir David McVicar’s new production of Falstaff.

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Mr. Ferring’s COVID-19 impacted 2020-2021 season began with his debut as Walther in Tannhäuser with Opéra de Rouen, a fully-rehearsed production with performances unfortunately cancelled. He was also slated to make a repeat appearance with the Jacksonville Symphony as the tenor soloist for Handel’s Messiah (performed), join Florentine Opera in recital (performed), and make his debut with North Carolina Opera as Tamino in Die Zauberflöte (cancelled). Other originally scheduled engagements included his return to Pittsburgh Opera as Tamino in Die Zauberflöte (cancelled), and covering the roles of Tamino and Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni at the Metropolitan Opera (cancelled).

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Previous notable engagements include his principal role debut at Lyric Opera of Chicago as Lurcanio in Ariodante, for which the Chicago Tribune declared him “the most noteworthy solo breakthrough of the production”, and Tamino in Die Zauberflöte at the Verbier Festival. With Pittsburgh Opera, he appeared as The Protagonist in the world premiere of the one-man opera Ashes & Snow in collaboration with American Opera Projects, bowed as Nemorino in a student matinee performance of in L’elisir d’amore, and sang Ricky in The Long Walk and Señor Alcalde in the world premiere of The Summer King.

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Eric Ferring was an Apprentice Singer at Santa Fe Opera, where he was awarded the 2017 Richard Tucker Memorial Scholarship. He also participated in the Académie du Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis’ Gerdine Young Artist Program, receiving a career award from the Richard Gaddes Fund for Young Artists, and was a Studio Artist at Wolf Trap Opera.