Photo: Lyric Opera (Kyle Flubacker)

Lyric Opera of Chicago announced today that Mary Ladish Selander, Lyric’s Director of Development, will take on a new role as Senior Philanthropic Advisor. She will continue to lead Lyric’s development team and engage with the Board and other major donors as usual until her successor is appointed and will subsequently serve in this newly created consultancy role.

“During her 22 years at Lyric, Mary spearheaded 22 successful annual campaigns totaling more than $400 million, oversaw three major capital campaigns totaling $200 million, and grew the endowment from $60 million to $175 million,” said Lyric general director Anthony Freud. “We are forever grateful to Mary for her many contributions to our company and thank her for being proactive to ensure a smooth transition of leadership within our development department as we take the next steps to strengthen the financial foundation of our organization.”

In recognition of Ms. Ladish Selander’s service, the company is awarding her with its highest honor, The Carol Fox Award. The award will be presented at Lyric’s annual meeting on June 29, 2017. It will be one of the very rare occasions that a Lyric staff member, other than a general director, has received the award.

Ms. Ladish Selander joined Lyric in 1995 as the Director of Annual Gifts and, for the past 17 years, has led all of Lyric’s development activities as Director of Development. Working with Lyric’s senior leadership, as well as philanthropists and opera lovers in Chicago and around the world, Ms. Ladish Selander helped Lyric almost triple its annual campaign funding and oversaw a more than ten-fold increase in annual production sponsorships.

Lyric will immediately begin a search for Ms. Ladish Selander’s successor.