Lyric Opera 2025-2026 Issue 8 - Salome

Lyric Opera of Chicago | 62 Finding Their Path “Most people, when thinking about opera and its related careers, think first of singers and members of the orchestra,” says Sheran Goodspeed Keyton, Director of Civic Engagement for Lyric Unlimited. While audiences may only see and hear the work on stage and in the pit, it of course takes a host of other professionals working around the stage and behind the scenes to bring an operatic production to life. Opera Pathfinders — the latest program from Lyric Unlimited — brings this less visible (and audible) work into the spotlight. “This program allows young people to gain a greater understanding of what it takes to build an opera from conception to completion,” explains Keyton. Launched in the 2025/26 Season, Opera Pathfinders presents high school and college students in the Chicago area with the variety of accessible entry points into the world of opera. Recognizing that the art form has often been dominated by an older, less diverse demographic, Opera Pathfinders presents opportunities for students to connect, grow their interests, and develop the skills and confidence needed to see themselves as future professionals with a stake in the future of the opera and the performing arts. “Many young people go through high school, college, and well into their adulthood uncertain of what they want to do as a career. Everything feels very permanent,” says Keyton. “ Opera Pathfinders gives them a chance to explore different facets of the industry in a safe and judgment-free space.” Over the course of the program, participants gain an understanding of the wide variety of careers and expertise that are crucial to the success of arts institutions like Lyric, and develop the tools needed to craft their own career path in the arts. Opera Pathfinders participants choose from three offered tracks, allowing them to curate their experience in the program based on their interests, with each path featuring a mix of student-led activities, group discussions, workshops, and professional-led career talks. Sheran Goodspeed Keyton,Director of Civic Engagement for Lyric Unlimited,shares insights on the program. By Janie Ragsdale Lyric Unlimited’s new Opera Pathfinders program introduces high school and college students to (sometimes unexpected) careers in opera Freddie Collier