Lyric Opera of Chicago Announces Elizabeth Hurley as New Chief Development Officer

Nationally known fundraising professional Elizabeth Hurley will join Lyric Opera of Chicago as its new chief development officer the company announced today. Hurley will be stepping into the role on March 1, 2018.

"Elizabeth comes to us with tremendous expertise, vision, and energy. I am thrilled that she will be joining the Lyric team," said general director, president & CEO Anthony Freud. "Elizabeth has held key development roles at some of the country's most significant arts organizations, including The Art Institute of Chicago, The Metropolitan Opera, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She is currently vice president for development and public affairs at the world-renowned Juilliard School. Her phenomenal experience and her deep, working knowledge of Chicago and philanthropy from a national perspective, make her a perfect fit to guide Lyric's fundraising efforts forward."

Mary Ladish Selander, Lyric's current chief development officer, echoed Freud's confidence and enthusiasm. "I've known and respected Elizabeth for over two decades, and consider her one of the best in the field today. As I have chosen to begin my transition from leading Lyric's development division to becoming a consultant for the organization through my own firm, I simply can't think of a candidate more fully qualified to take on one of the company's most crucial roles. I look forward to working with Elizabeth through her transition into Lyric, and maintaining close contact with her, as Lyric's senior philanthropic advisor, as she fully assumes her new post in early 2018."

"On behalf of the board of directors, we are excited to welcome Elizabeth to Lyric and have great confidence in her ability to meet the opportunities and challenges presented by the role of chief development officer," remarked David T. Ormesher, Lyric's Board Chairman.

Elizabeth Hurley has more than 30 years of experience in arts administration with a deep working knowledge of fundraising strategy and execution. Her roles reflect her commitment to mission-driven organizations and her keen dedication to the performing arts. She currently serves as vice president for development and public affairs at The Juilliard School in New York City, overseeing a 40-person team responsible for all philanthropic, marketing, performance, retail, and communications activity. During her tenure, she completed a total reorganization of the development and public affairs staff and strategy, and created new development operations functions focusing on data analysis, research, and reporting. Elizabeth's roles at some of Chicago's most significant cultural institutions include vice president of museum development at The Art Institute of Chicago, executive director at the Grant Park Music Festival, and leading development roles at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Hurley holds two degrees in English Literature; a BA from Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee and an MA from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.

She begins her tenure at Lyric on March 1, 2018.

About Lyric Opera of Chicago

Lyric Opera of Chicago's mission is to express and promote the life-changing, transformational, revelatory power of great opera. Lyric exists to provide a broad, deep, and relevant cultural service to Chicago and the nation, and to advance the development of the art form.

Founded in 1954, Lyric is dedicated to producing and performing consistently thrilling, entertaining, and thought-provoking opera with a balanced repertoire of core classics, lesser-known masterpieces, and new works; to creating an innovative and wide-ranging program of community engagement and educational activities; and to developing exceptional emerging operatic talent.

Under the leadership of general director Anthony Freud, music director Sir Andrew Davis, and creative consultant Renée Fleming, Lyric strives to become The Great North American Opera Company for the 21st century: a globally significant arts organization embodying the core values of excellence, relevance, and fiscal responsibility.

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