Anne M. Edwards elected to Lyric Opera of Chicago Board of Directors

CHICAGO (12/9/25) — Lyric Opera of Chicago announces the election of Anne M. Edwards to its Board of Directors. Edwards was officially elected on Wednesday, October 15, during Lyric’s Board of Directors meeting. As a Certified Public Accountant and former Controller of Lyric Opera of Chicago, Edwards brings decades of financial expertise and a personal connection to the company to her new leadership role.

Edwards began her career with KPMG in Chicago and New York before joining Bank of Boston. Upon returning to Chicago, she served as Controller at Lyric, overseeing financial operations and gaining firsthand experience with the company’s inner workings.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Edwards has long been an active supporter of the arts and civic life in Chicago. She serves as Vice President for Education on Lyric’s Women’s Board, where she previously chaired Membership, and is a member of the Founders’ Board of Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. She also contributed her leadership to the most recent campaign for her alma mater, the University of Illinois Gies College of Business.

"Anne Edwards brings a rare combination of professional insight and personal dedication to Lyric," says Sylvia Neil, Board Chair of Lyric Opera of Chicago. "Her long-standing involvement, from her tenure as Controller to her leadership on the Women’s Board, exemplifies the deep commitment that strengthens our organization."

Edwards and her husband, Don, have been Lyric subscribers and donors since 1998. Together, they have supported numerous company productions and initiatives, including Elektra (2018/19 Season), West Side Story (2018/19 Season), and Twilight: Gods (2020/21 Season).

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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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