Lyric Opera of Chicago Elects New Board of Directors Members

CHICAGO (6/21/2023) – At Lyric Opera of Chicago’s annual meeting, Board Chair Sylvia Neil placed into nomination two distinguished individuals for election to its Board of Directors: Samir Mayekar and Nancy Santi. Both were unanimously voted onto the company’s Board of Directors and bring a wealth of experience, expertise, and a passion for the arts, further complementing Lyric’s commitment to excellence and innovation at the Board level.

Samir Mayekar, former deputy mayor for economic and neighborhood development for the city of Chicago, brings a diverse background in finance, management consulting, and entrepreneurship. An adjunct faculty member at Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management, he also served in the Obama administration and was selected in 2019 to Crain’s 40 Under 40. He holds a B.A. from Northwestern University and an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management, where he received the Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans. For nearly a decade he was co-founder and CEO of NanoGraf Corporation, a global manufacturer of advanced materials that continues to grow in Chicago.

Nancy Santi, a respected philanthropist and civic leader, has a background in education and extensive experience in charitable organizations, including service on the women’s boards of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago, The Art Institute of Chicago and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Boards of Directors of the Harris Theater for Music and Dance and PAWS Chicago. Nancy’s alma mater is the University of Cincinnati where she received a B.S. in Education, and where she is now on the Board of Directors for the University of Cincinnati Foundation. After first joining Lyric’s Women's Board in 2015, she was elected President in 2022.

"We are thrilled to welcome Samir and Nancy to our Board of Directors," said Sylvia Neil, "Their expertise and commitment to the arts align perfectly with Lyric’s mission to present world-class opera and engage audiences, and the whole of the community we serve, in transformative experiences."

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About Lyric

Lyric Opera of Chicago is where the world sings — and where Chicago comes alive.

Under the leadership of General Director, President & CEO John Mangum and Music Director Enrique Mazzola, Lyric stands at the intersection of artistic excellence and civic purpose, harnessing the full power of opera — voice, orchestra, stagecraft, and story — to illuminate the questions, emotions, and experiences that define us as human beings. Nearly 75 seasons of world-class performances have made Lyric one of the greatest opera companies in the world. What drives us now is what has always driven us: the belief that this art form, at its best, can move people in ways nothing else can.

Lyric is also Chicago’s partner — in its neighborhoods, its schools, and its communities — through education, engagement, and a relentless commitment to making opera accessible, relevant, and irresistible to everyone. At the heart of that commitment is The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center, which trains the artists who will carry this art form into its future. Every night when the curtain rises, Lyric reminds this city — and the world — why live performance still matters.

Lyric Opera of Chicago doesn’t just present opera, it redefines what opera can be. It’s where Chicago comes to be moved, inspired, and connected.

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