Lyric Opera Orchestra
Established in 1954, the Lyric Opera Orchestra made its debut that year, first with Lyric's "calling card" performances of Mozart's Don Giovanni and then later with the company's official opening, Bellini's Norma. Both productions were conducted by Nicola Rescigno, one of the company's co-founders.
The orchestra has since performed an extraordinarily diverse repertoire under many of the world's most distinguished conductors, including Enrique Mazzola, who has been Lyric Opera's music director since the 2021/22 season.
Over the course of its remarkable history the orchestra has also collaborated with such conductors as Bruno Bartoletti (longtime Lyric artistic director, currently artistic director emeritus), Sir Andrew Davis (Music Director, 2000/01 – 2020/21 Seasons), Tullio Serafin, Artur Rodzinski, Sir Georg Solti, Kiril Kondrashin, Ferdinand Leitner, Christoph von Dohnányi, Zubin Mehta, Sir John Pritchard, Sir Mark Elder, James Conlon, Riccardo Chailly, Antonio Pappano, Michael Tilson Thomas, Harry Bicket, and Donald Runnicles.
Among the orchestra's most acclaimed performances have been Wagner's Ring cycle under Mehta (1996) and Davis (2005), as well as performances in the past decade of repertoire as varied as Handel's Ariodante, Mozart's Idomeneo, Berlioz's Les Troyens, Verdi's Otello, Wagner's Tannhäuser and Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Mussorgksky's Boris Godunov, Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin, Massenet's Cendrillon, Dvořák's Rusalka, Strauss's Elektra, Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, and Weinberg's The Passenger.
Music Director
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Enrique Mazzola
Music Director
As of July 1, 2021, Italian conductor Enrique Mazzola is music director of Lyric Opera of Chicago. He is only the third person to serve in this capacity at Lyric, following the tenures of Sir Andrew Davis and the late Bruno Bartoletti.
Music Staff
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Kedrick Armstrong
Music Staff
Kedrick Armstrong is on the Music Staff with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
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Elizabeth Askren
Music Staff
Elizabeth Askren is on the Music Staff with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
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Michael Banwarth
Music Staff
Ryan Opera Center Ensemble
Michael Banwarth is a pianist in the Ryan Opera Center Ensemble.
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William C. Billingham
Music Staff
William C. Billingham is on the Music Staff with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
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Kyrian Friedenberg
Solti Foundation U.S. Opera Residency
Kyrian Friedenberg is on the Music Staff with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
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Susan Miller Hult
Music Staff
Susan Miller Hult is on the Music Staff with the Lyric Opera Orchestra
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Chi-Yuan Lin
Ryan Opera Center Conductor
Ryan Opera Center Ensemble
Chi-Yuan Lin is a conductor in the Ryan Opera Center Ensemble.
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Tess Jackson
Music Staff
Tess Jackson is on the Music Staff with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
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Noah Lindquist
Music Staff
Noah Lindquist is on the Music Staff with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
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Francesco Milioto
Music Staff
Francesco Milioto is on the Music Staff with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
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Jerad Mosbey
Music Staff
Jerad Mosbey is on the Music Staff with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
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Blair Salter
Music Staff
Blair Salter is on the Music Staff with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
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Stefano Sarzani
Music Staff
Stefano Sarzani is on the Music Staff with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
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Madeline Slettedahl
Music Staff
Ryan Opera Center alumna
Madeline Slettedahl is on the Music Staff with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
Violin I
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Robert Hanford
Violin I | Concertmaster
Robert Hanford is a violinist and concertmaster with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
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Emily Nebel
Violin I | Assistant Concertmaster
Emily Nebel is a violinist and assistant concertmaster with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
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Alexander Belavsky
Violin I
Alexander Belavsky is a violinist with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
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Renèe-Paule Gauthier
Violin I
2024/25 Season Substitute
Renèe-Paule Gauthier is a violinist with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
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Violin II
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Yin Shen
Violin II | Principal
Yin Shen is the principal violin II player with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
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John Macfarlane
Violin II | Assistant Principal
John Macfarlane is a violinist with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
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Diane Duraffourg-Robinson
Violin II
Diane Duraffourg-Robinson is a violinist with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
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John D. Robinson
Violin II
John D. Robinson is a violinist with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
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Viola
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Terri Van Valkinburgh
Viola | Assistant Principal
Terri Van Valkinburgh plays the viola with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
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Melissa Trier Kirk
Viola
Melissa Trier Kirk plays the viola with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
Cello
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Calum Cook
Cello | Principal
Calum Cook is the principal cellist with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
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Ana Kim
Cello | Assistant Principal
Ana Kim is the assistant principal cellist with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
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Mark Brandfonbrener
Cello
Mark Brandfonbrener is a cellist with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
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String Bass
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Ian Hallas
String Bass | Principal
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Samuel Shuhan
String Bass | Acting Principal
Samual Shuhan is a bassist with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
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Andrew L. W. Anderson
Bass | Acting Assistant Principal
Andrew L. W. Anderson is a bassist with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
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Collins R. Trier
String Bass
Collins R. Trier is a bassist with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
Flute
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Marie Tachouet
Flute | Principal
Marie Tachouet is a flutist with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
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Dionne Jackson
Flute | Assistant Principal
Dionne Jackson is a flutist with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
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Alyce Johnson
Flute
Alyce Johnson plays flute and piccolo with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
Piccolo
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Alyce Johnson
Piccolo
Alyce Johnson plays flute and piccolo with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
Oboe
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Judith Zunamon Lewis
Oboe | Assistant Principal
Judith Zunamon Lewis is an oboist with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
English Horn
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Judith Zunamon Lewis
English Horn
Judith Zunamon Lewis is an oboist with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
Clarinet
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Heesoo Kim
Clarinet | Principal
Heesoo Kim is a clarinetist with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
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Susan Warner
Clarinet | Assistant Principal
Susan Warner is a clarinetist with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
Bass Clarinet
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Susan Warner
Acting Bass Clarinet
Susan Warner is a clarinetist with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
Bassoon
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Preman Tilson
Bassoon | Principal
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Lewis Kirk
Bassoon | Assistant Principal
Lewis Kirk is a bassoonist with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
Contrabassoon
Horn
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Jonathan Boen
Horn | Principal
Jonathan Boen plays the horn with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
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Fritz Foss
Horn | Assistant Principal/Utility
Fritz Foss plays the horn with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
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Robert E. Johnson
Horn | Third
Robert E. Johnson plays horn with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
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Trumpet
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William Denton
Trumpet | Principal
William Denton plays the trumpet with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
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Rebecca Oliverio
Trumpet | Acting Assistant Principal
Rebecca Oliverio plays the trumpet with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
Trombone
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Jeremy Moeller
Trombone | Principal
Jeremy Moeller plays trombone with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
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Mark Fisher
Trombone | Assistant Principal
Mark Fisher plays the trombone with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
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Bass Trombone
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Will Baker
Bass Trombone
Will Baker plays the bass trombone in the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
Tuba
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Andrew Smith
Tuba | Principal
Andrew Smith plays the tuba with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
Timpani
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Edward Harrison
Timpani | Principal
Edward Harrison is a timpanist with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
Percussion
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Douglas Waddell
Percussion | Acting Principal
Douglas Waddell is a percussionist with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
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Eric Millstein
Percussion | Acting Assistant Principal
Eric Millstein is a percussionist with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
Harp
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Lynn Williams
Harp | Principal
Marguerite Lynn Williams plays the harp with the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
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John Rosenkrans
Librarian | Principal
John Rosenkrans is the librarian for the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
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Christine Janicki
Stageband Contractor
Christine Janicki is the stageband contractor for the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
*On leave, 2023-2024 Season
**Season Substitute
The Lyric Opera Orchestra string sections utilize revolving seating. Players behind the front desk change seats systematically and are listed alphabetically in the roster above.
Photo: Todd Rosenberg