Maria Lagios
Chicago Opera Theater
Budget 2 Honoree
(Annual Company Budget $3M – $15M)

Maria Lagios has been a dedicated member of the Chicago Opera Theater family since the company’s founding in 1973, singing more than a dozen leading soprano roles with COT throughout the 1970s and 1980s. For many years prior to joining the board, Lagios participated in COT’s education programs and volunteered on the Education Committee. After being invited to join the board in 2018, Lagios was quickly appointed chair of the Education Committee, a position she continues to hold to this day. Throughout her tenure at COT, she has championed education programs, encouraged emerging artists, and invested in the future success of the company. She also served on the Search Committee to find the new general director, playing a pivotal role in the appointment of Lawrence Edelson in 2023. In addition, Lagios was instrumental in the success of the company’s 50^th Anniversary Gala, helping to gather testimonials for COT’s 50^th Anniversary Time Capsule and working tirelessly with former Artistic Director Carl Ratner to draft a history of COT for the company’s website.

A graduate of the University of Michigan and Northwestern University, Lagios has enjoyed a career in opera, oratorio, and musical theater throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. She has served on the faculty at North Park University, Wheaton College, and Concordia College. In 1988, she joined the faculty at Roosevelt University, where she established the Biannual Art Song Festival and International Art Song Celebration. She maintains an active private voice studio as a pedagogue and coach, and her master classes and recitals have been enthusiastically received at colleges and universities internationally.

Claire Liu
Houston Grand Opera
Budget 1 Honoree
(Annual Company Budget Over $15M)

Claire Liu is chair of the Board of Directors of Houston Grand Opera and a highly regarded retired corporate finance professional who previously worked at LyondellBasell. Since subscribing in 2011, she and her husband, Joe Greenberg, have generously supported various aspects of HGO, including mainstage productions, community engagement, and the Sarah and Ernest Butler Houston Grand Opera Studio. Liu has been an actively involved member of the board since 2015, providing invaluable corporate finance expertise, particularly as chair of the Finance Committee during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her strategic decisions helped HGO navigate financial challenges and emerge stronger.

In 2021, Liu co-chaired the Search Committee that appointed General Director and CEO Khori Dastoor, significantly contributing to HGO’s recent successes, including record ticket sales and increased audience engagement. Liu was then elected as board chair in 2022. Currently, she is spearheading the development of HGO’s strategic plan, set to be completed in 2024, further solidifying her legacy. In addition to her service on the HGO board, Liu is an ex officio member of the HGO Endowment Board; sits on the board of the Houston Zoo, where she chairs the Audit Committee and is a member of the Finance Committee; serves on the Community Advisory Board and Finance Committee of SEARCH Homeless Service; and is a member of the Community Impact Committee and chair of the Organizational Review Committee for United Way of Greater Houston. She also supports numerous other organizations around Houston to help create a healthier nonprofit ecosystem.

William Miller
Opera Columbus
Budget 3 Honoree
(Annual Company Budget $1M – $3M)

William Miller has been instrumental in advancing the mission of Opera Columbus since joining the board in 2009. He currently serves on the Executive Committee and previously served as board president from 2019–2022. During his tenure, Miller has been an active resource for the staff, board, and community and has worked tirelessly to challenge the board to think beyond its current models and make sustainable change involving community partnerships. In his role as board president, Miller successfully led Opera Columbus through the pandemic and established a “Rainy Day Fund” to ensure the sustainability of the company. He has been a steadfast, proactive leader who promotes collaboration in the community and actively ensures that the board reflects the city of Columbus and is enriched by a diversity of thought leaders.

Miller is the national partner in charge of culture at KPMG LLP, as well as an audit partner and SEC reviewing partner, with more than 24 years of experience. He has a passion for people, culture, DEI, and talent-related initiatives. In addition to his role at KPMG, Miller serves as the lead recruiting partner for the Ohio State University and is a member of the university’s Fisher College of Business Accounting Advisory Board. He has served on nonprofit boards including the Ohio CPA Foundation, Columbus Humane, Huckleberry House, and the Insurance Accounting and Systems Association of Ohio. Miller also serves on the Investment Advisory Committee for OPERA America. He received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Ohio State University.

Leah Solat
Annapolis Opera
Budget 4 Honoree
(Annual Company Budget $250K – $1M)

Leah Solat’s love of opera began long before she arrived at Annapolis Opera. Her 30-year career as an IBM systems manager led to a five-year international assignment in Paris and Brussels, where she and her husband fully immersed themselves in the culture and the performing arts, deepening their appreciation for the art form. Returning to the United States, they retired to Annapolis, Maryland, to indulge their love of sailing and be closer to their family.

In 2002, Solat joined Annapolis Opera as a volunteer, quickly assuming multiple roles within the company. She has chaired or co-chaired numerous committees, most recently serving as co-chair of the 50^th Anniversary Committee. Her other leadership roles include serving as board secretary and as president twice. Solat’s pet project has been the Annual Vocal Competition; she is responsible for all aspects of planning and executing the contest and securing the prize money for the awards. During her time as chair, she has raised approximately $185,000 in cash awards benefiting more than 110 finalists over the past 14 years. As she finishes her 22^nd year at Annapolis Opera, Solat continues to use her knowledge to serve her retirement community’s large group of opera enthusiasts by creating opera-based events.

Jennifer Suh Whitfield
HERE Arts Center
Budget 5 Honoree
(Annual Company Budget under $250K)

Jennifer Suh Whitfield is the chair of HERE Art Center’s Board of Directors and has served on the board of the Obie Award-winning institution since 2019. She co-chaired the Advancement Committee and served on the DEIJ and Governance Committees prior to becoming chair. Whitfield has been a strong supporter of HERE for more than 15 years. In 2019, she established the Women’s Fund (renamed the Kristin Marting Women’s Fund in honor of HERE’s outgoing founding artistic director in 2024) to provide support for female artists and women in roles of artistic leadership. She played a pivotal role in leading the strategic planning and leadership search as HERE transitioned from an organization with a founding artistic director in 2024. Whitfield is also a member of the Board of Trustees of Bryn Mawr College, serving on numerous committees, including the Historical Monuments Working Group, Bi-College Council, and External Affairs Committee.

Whitfield has worked in New York and Hong Kong for Skadden, Arps, and was part of a team to launch the first International Young Leaders Institute at The Asia Society, where she supported public relations and media outreach. She also attended the French Culinary Institute and worked alongside chefs Dan Kluger and Jean-Georges Vongerichten at ABC Kitchen. Born in Seoul, Korea, and raised outside of Boston, Whitfield considers herself a New Yorker and global citizen who seeks to bridge understanding, make meaningful connections, and pursue artistic adventure. Her primary job over the last 14 years has been raising three young boys with her husband, Ben, in Brooklyn.

Brian James Dawson
Tapestry Opera
Association for Opera in Canada Honoree

Brian James Dawson served as executive vice president and managing director of the investment management company McLean Budden Limited prior to his retirement in 2011. He was also previously a financial analyst at SEI Financial Services. Dawson received a Bachelor of Arts Honours in political science and economics from the University of Western Ontario and a Chartered Financial Analyst certification from the University of Virginia. He is passionate about opera and classical music and enjoys spending his time skiing, hiking, wilderness canoeing, traveling, and entertaining.