Dr. Louise Bernard Joins Lyric Opera of Chicago Board of Directors

CHICAGO (1/17/24) — Lyric Opera of Chicago announces the appointment of Dr. Louise Bernard to its Board of Directors. Bernard, the museum director for the Obama Presidential Center, brings extensive background in the arts and culture sector and strong commitment to civic engagement, making her a valuable addition to the opera company's leadership.

"We are delighted to welcome Louise to our Board of Directors," says Sylvia Neil, Board Chair. "Her prodigious cultural expertise and deep commitment to education and civic engagement resonate with Lyric's mission and we eagerly look forward to her contributions to the company."

Bernard has had a distinguished career in the cultural and educational spheres. In her current role, she leads the design, development, and operation of the Obama Presidential Center Museum on Chicago’s South Side. Previously, Bernard was director of exhibitions at the New York Public Library and was a senior content developer and interpretive planner for Ralph Appelbaum Associates, where she contributed to the development of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, and several international projects.

Bernard, who grew up in West Yorkshire, England, earned her BA from the University of Manchester in 1993, dual MA degrees from Indiana University Bloomington in 1997, and her PhD from Yale in 2005.

In addition to her professional roles, Bernard is actively engaged in corporate and civic initiatives. She was formerly a board member of Yale's graduate school alumni association and in 2023 served as Returning Guest Faculty for the Oxford Cultural Leaders Program at Oxford University. She was previously an evaluator for the Ford Foundation: Pre-Doctoral, Dissertation, and Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, Literature Panel, National Academies in Washington, D.C. from 2009-2013.

Bernard, unanimously elected to Lyric’s Board of Directors, begins her term immediately.

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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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