The American baritone Ronald Ulen is of Norwegian heritage and grew up primarily in Florida and Minnesota. After studies in Business Administration and Finance he turned his attention to music, earning his Bachelors Degree from Minnesota State University Mankato followed by Masters Degrees from Florida State University. Further studies led him to Vienna and New York. After a successful career begin in America, he made his European debut in the 1990/91 season at the Zürich Opera.

From 1991 to 1994 he was a member of the Theater in Coburg. The seasons 1994 to 1996 Ronald Ulen was engaged as the leading baritone at the State Opera in Schwerin. In addition to guest appearances in Opera and Concert in North & South America, Europe and Asia, Ronald Ulen continued to build his repertoire at the State Theater in Mainz from 1996 to 1998 before moving to the Opera House of Augsburg, where he stayed for two seasons. 

From 2000 til 2006 he was a free lance artist with appearances in Heidelberg, Duesseldorf and Schwerin among others. In 2006 he began his duties as Director of Opera and Professor of Voice at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.