Lyric Opera of Chicago has elected five new members to its Board of Directors. Billy Corgan, Edmund Lester, Suzanne Mulshine, John Sabl, and Michael Strautmanis were unanimously elected by the Board. The new members begin their terms immediately.

Corgan is best known as the founder and frontman of the Grammy Award-winning rock band The Smashing Pumpkins, and recently collaborated with Lyric on the world premiere of “A Night of Mellon Collie and Infinite Sadness.”

Lester is Senior Vice President and Regional Marketing Executive for U.S. Bank, and a Northwestern University graduate who previously served on Lyric’s Guild Board.

Mulshine is a Chicago attorney and business leader who has been an active member of Lyric’s Women’s Board since 2018, serving as Chair of the 2025-26 Opening Gala and Chair of the 2024 Civic Night.

Sabl is Senior Counsel at Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres LLC, specializing in mergers and acquisitions, and previously served as head transactional attorney for the City of Chicago.

Strautmanis serves as Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of The Obama Foundation, where he helps lead development of the Obama Presidential Center and oversees the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance.

“These five extraordinary leaders bring diverse expertise and a shared passion for the arts,” said Sylvia Neil, Board Chair of Lyric Opera of Chicago, per an official press release. “Their insights and experience will not only strengthen Lyric’s global presence but also inspire new ways to connect locally with Chicago’s community.”

Read Related Stories

• Lyric Opera of Chicago Names New Board Chair

• Lyric Opera of Chicago to Bring ‘Katie: The Strongest of the Strong’ to Schools and Communities