Margaret Lias

Mezzo-soprano, Margaret Lias, has been celebrated for her “warm,” “arresting,” and “rich-toned” singing. Since her Boston Symphony Hall debut in 2011 with Handel and Haydn Society (Handel, Israel in Egypt), Margaret has been a frequent soloist under the baton of Harry Christophers. Other solo appearances in 2015 and 2016 include Seraphic Fire (Haydn, Lord Nelson Mass), New Bedford Symphony Orchestra (Mendelssohn, Elijah), Tucson Chamber Artists (Bach, Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen, BWV 12), Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival (Berg, Sieben frühe Lieder), Staunton Music Festival (Purcell, Dido and Aeneas (Dido)), The Cathedral of All Saints’ Albany (Bach, St. John Passion), and Emmanuel Music (Rossini, Petite messe solennelle).

A passionate supporter of Anglican liturgical music, Margaret has been a sought-after cantor for events such as bishop consecrations, priest ordinations, and Holy Week services in major cathedrals and churches in the US (St. John the Divine, New York, NY, Trinity Church in the City of Boston, MA, and Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta, GA) and abroad (Westminster Abbey (The Collegiate Church of St. Peter), London, England, and Coventry Cathedral (St. Michael’s Cathedral), Coventry, England.).

Margaret’s versatility as a singer allows her the opportunity to collaborate with other soloists to perform master choral works at a very high level easily transitioning from medieval and baroque music to classical, romantic, and contemporary repertoire. Margaret is a founding member of The Skylark Vocal Ensemble under Matthew Guard, member of the Concert Chorale of New York under James Bagwell, Voices of Ascension under Dennis Keene, Musica Sacra New York under Kent Tritle, and the New York Choral Artists under Joseph Flummerfelt.

Sought after for her administrative talents, Margaret was named chorus representative for Handel and Haydn Society in 2009. Prior to work as a full-time singer, Margaret used her extensive fundraising expertise to write grants, solicit funds, and organize donor events for Boston Modern Orchestra Project.

Margaret began vocal studies at the age of 13 but had already been a student of the Royal School of Church Music curriculum from age 7. As a teenager, Margaret participated in community education studies at Eastman School of Music and eventually went on to collegiate coursework there as well. While at Eastman, Margaret studied with Jane Günter-McCoy, Seth McCoy, and Marcia Baldwin. Presently Margaret studies with D’Anna Fortunato and Claudia Waite.

www.margaretlias.com