The Carol Fox Award: Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future

Each spring, the staff and board members of Lyric Opera of Chicago take time to reflect on the company's past season and look ahead to the future, they also take time to recognize individuals whose dedication has shaped that ongoing journey. Presented annually at the final board meeting of the fiscal year, the Carol Fox Award is Lyric’s highest honor, traditionally bestowed upon someone whose vision, leadership, and service have left a lasting impact on the company.

At the 2025 Annual Meeting, that honor was presented to Penelope Steiner, whose leadership, generosity, and deep love for opera have made her an essential part of Lyric’s story.

Who Was Carol Fox?

The award’s namesake, Carol Fox, co-founded Lyric Opera of Chicago in 1954 when she was just 28 years old. A Chicago native and former singer, Fox brought new life to the city’s cultural landscape with a fearless vision that elevated Lyric into one of the world’s great opera houses.

As Lyric’s first general director, she led the company until 1980, presenting some of the most renowned artists of the day — Maria Callas, Tito Gobbi, Joan Sutherland, and many others. Her uncompromising standards and passionate devotion to the art form ushered in a golden era of opera in Chicago.

Today, her presence is still felt around Lyric’s home — from the honorary Carol Fox Drive outside the theater, to the bronze bust of her in the Lobby, and most meaningfully, through this annual award.

Notable Past Recipients of the Carol Fox Award

Select past recipients include legendary figures like Ardis Krainik (1996), Lyric’s beloved second general director; Shirley Welsh Ryan (2007), whose support transformed Lyric’s artist development program; and Renée and Lester Crown (2004), whose longtime advocacy helped Lyric grow artistically and institutionally.

Penelope Steiner: A New Torchbearer

The 2025 honoree, Penelope Steiner, now joins this remarkable group. While she officially joined Lyric’s Board of Directors in 2021, her connection to Lyric spans more than 40 years — as a subscriber, passionate supporter, and now, as an inspiring leader as a new Vice Chair of Lyric’s Board of Directors.

What makes Penelope’s recognition so meaningful is not only her generosity, but the depth of her engagement. She is a connector, a listener, and a motivator. She chairs the Enrique Circle in support of Music Director Enrique Mazzola, champions Lyric artists, builds community across generations, and rarely misses an event. Her presence is both visionary and warm.

“Penelope has embraced the Lyric family as her own,” shared Board Chair Sylvia Neil in presenting the award, “and she has become its soul.”

A Chicago native, Penelope fell in love with opera during a college year abroad in Rome. She became a Lyric subscriber in the 1980s, and through personal gifts and those through the Robert and Penelope Steiner Family Foundation, she has supported many of the city’s leading cultural institutions. Her leadership is deeply personal — rooted in experience, fueled by passion, and guided by a remarkable optimism.

In March 2025, Penelope made a $25 million unrestricted gift to Lyric — one of the largest in Lyric’s history. As a tribute, the main floor of the opera house will be renamed the Robert and Penelope Steiner Parquet, ensuring their legacy resonates far beyond this season.

But even more than this extraordinary gesture, what defines Penelope’s impact is her unwavering belief in opera’s power to connect, uplift, and inspire.

“Opera, more than any art form,” she shared, “embraces all artistic disciplines, spreading its light through the universe and touching all with its iconic aura. Lyric’s magic will be a motivating factor for generations to come.”