Lyric Opera 2025-2026 Issue 4 - Cavalleria

Lyric Opera of Chicago | 26 JOSEPHINE LEE CHILDREN’S CHORUS DIRECTOR Previously at Lyric: 16 productions since 2000/01, most recently Carmen and Proximity (both 2022/23). Lee is President of Uniting Voices Chicago (formerly Chicago Children’s Choir), a nonprofit organization that empowers nearly 4,000 diverse youth annually to find their voice and celebrate their common humanity through the power of music. Her efforts have established Uniting Voices Chicago as one of the city’s premier civic and cultural institutions, and its ensembles regularly join Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, among other ensembles. Lee has led Uniting Voices Chicago singers in performances of Carmina Burana with Choral Arts Society at the Kennedy Center; recordings of James Lee III’s Pitch In with Pacifica Quartet and Stacy Garrop’s Terra Nostra with Cedille Records; with Colombian pop star Karol G on Saturday Night Live and at Lollapalooza (2023); and on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert (2021); PBS Great Performances national broadcast of Bernstein’s Mass with Ravinia Festival (2020); with Bobby McFerrin & The SpiritYouAll Band at Ravinia Festival (2019); and recordings of Chance the Rapper’s debut studio album The Big Day (2019) and Grammy Award-winning Coloring Book (2016); and performed with numerous renowned artists including Yo Yo Ma, Luciano Pavarotti, Solange, Al Green, Eddie Vedder, Wyclef Jean, Buddy Guy, the Eagles, Andrea Bocelli, and more. Lee received an Emmy award for Songs on the Road to Freedom (2008) and was nominated for a Grammy award for Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance. Lee has conducted the National Philharmonic at Strathmore, Choral Arts Symphonic Chorus and Orchestra at the Kennedy Center, Chicago Sinfonietta, Oregon Symphony, Grant Park Orchestra, Sphinx Virtuosi, Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, and Portland Youth Symphony Orchestra. JOHN METZNER WIG & MAKEUP DESIGNER The versatile designer first joined the staff of Lyric for the 2022/23 Season. He has previously collaborated with Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Lookingglass Theatre, and Court Theatre. He served for nine years as Head of Wig and Makeup for Webster University’s Conservatory of Theatre Arts, and designed hair and makeup for more than 50 performances at The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. Other regional credits include work at The Muny, Great River Shakespeare Festival, and Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, where he designed for The Pirates of Penzance , among many other productions. His advanced training includes wig styling at the Wig Room Training Academy and London School of Wig Making. John Metzner is supported by The Marlys A. Beider Wigmaster and Makeup Designer Endowed Chair.