Lyric Opera of Chicago elects new members to its Board of Directors

CHICAGO (11/7/23) — Lyric Opera of Chicago announces the addition of Sarah Garvey and Philip G. Lumpkin to its Board of Directors. These individuals enrich the board with a wealth of experience, expertise, and a decades-long history of involvement with the company.

"We warmly welcome Sarah Garvey and Philip G. Lumpkin to Lyric Opera of Chicago's Board of Directors," says Sylvia Neil, Board Chair. "Their extensive history with the company, coupled with their diverse backgrounds and unwavering support for the arts, perfectly align with our mission. We look forward to their contributions to the company."

Sarah Garvey, former vice president of corporate relations at the Boeing Company, joins Lyric's Board of Directors with a wealth of corporate expertise. Her extensive career includes roles in mergers and acquisitions and taxation, making her a valuable asset as Lyric Opera continues to navigate the evolving arts landscape. Beyond her career achievements, she is a dedicated civic leader and advocate for the arts, holding positions on the boards of cultural institutions, including the Art Institute of Chicago and the Shedd Aquarium.

Philip G. Lumpkin, retired corporate vice president for provider affairs at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, brings immense corporate leadership experience to Lyric's Board. His distinguished career at Blue Cross Blue Shield, coupled with his background in mergers and acquisitions, uniquely positions him to contribute valuable insights. His commitment to civic involvement and the arts is evident through his support for organizations such as SAGE USA and Truth in Accounting. As a longtime supporter of Lyric Opera of Chicago, he has served on the Board of Lyric's Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center since 2016.

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About Lyric

Lyric Opera of Chicago is committed to redefining what it means to experience great opera. The company is driven to deliver consistently excellent artistry through innovative, relevant, celebratory programming that engages and energizes new and traditional audiences.

Under the leadership of General Director, President & CEO Anthony Freud, Music Director Enrique Mazzola, and Special Project Advisor Renée Fleming, Lyric is dedicated to reflecting, and drawing strength from, the diversity of Chicago. Lyric offers, through innovation, collaboration, and evolving learning opportunities, ever-more exciting, accessible, and thought-provoking audience and community experiences. We also stand committed to training the artists of the future, through The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center; and to becoming increasingly diverse across our audiences, staff, programming, and artists—magnifying the welcoming pull of our art form, our company, and our city.

Through the timeless power of voice, the splendor of a great orchestra and chorus, theater, dance, design, and truly magnificent stagecraft, Lyric is devoted to immersing audiences in worlds both familiar and unexpected, creating shared experiences that resonate long after the curtain comes down.

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