Rylee Worstell

A 2020 graduate of the vocal performance program at the University of Tennessee, Rylee Worstell has performed with many companies within the Knoxville area. She has performed in productions such as Le Nozze di Figaro, L’Elisir d’amore, Carmen, Amelia al Ballo and Zoom Speed Dating Tonight! with the UT Opera Theatre. Rylee is also a chorus member in the Knoxville Opera, performing in Lucia di Lammermoor and Cavalleria Rusticana in their 2019-2020 season. Rylee had the pleasure of playing Hansel in Humperdinck’s Hansel und Gretel as part of the Knoxville Symphony’s Young People’s Concert Series. She served as the President of VolOpera, the undergraduate opera scenes program at the University of Tennessee, in which she helped produce and premiere the role of Pinocchio in composer Aaron Hunt’s new opera Pinocchio. She also participated in multiple scenes and concert programs with VolOpera, including playing Cherubino in a truncated version of Le Nozze di Figaro.

Outside of the Tennessee area, Rylee has also performed across Virginia and North Carolina. She was a part of the Angels Vocal Arts program in Los Angeles, California, as well as the Harrower Summer Opera Program in Atlanta, Georgia. Through these, Rylee gained experience in both roles and chorus work in shows such as Gianni Schicchi, Suor Angelica, Florencia en el Amazonas and Little Women.

Rylee is from Williamsburg, Virginia. She started her musical journey at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts as a part of their high school voice program. She received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville in the Fall of 2020. She will attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Fall of 2021 to pursue her Master’s of Music in Vocal Performance.