The Lyric Opera of Chicago has received $2 million from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for a long-term new initiative known as Lyric Unlimited, which encompasses expanded community-engagement initiatives. Details of those community-engagement projects will be announced over the next few months. Cayenne Harris becomes director of Lyric Unlimited this month; Harris is former director for new initiatives at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Institute for Learning, overseeing the Citizen Musician initiative and developing diversity initiatives and programming for incarcerated and at-risk youth. The Lyric Opera’s Mellon grant also supports current education programs and the world premiere of Bel Canto, a new opera to premiere in the 2015-16 season, by composer Jimmy López and librettist Nilo Cruz, based on the Ann Patchett novel of the same title.
Posted July 17, 2012
