Lyric Opera 2024-2025 Issue 8 - The Listeners

61 | Lyric Opera of Chicago JONATHAN BOEN, Principal Horn Boen began his career at age 21 as Third Horn with Lyric Opera of Chicago in 1978 and has held the position of Principal Horn since 1979. He also served as Principal Horn with the Grant Park Orchestra from 1998 until his retirement in August, 2024. Previously he was also a member of the Denver Symphony and former Principal Horn of the Music of the Baroque and Chicago Philharmonic Orchestras. He has performed as Guest Principal Horn for the Dallas and Milwaukee Symphonies and the Santa Fe Opera. A guest artist with numerous ensembles across the country, Boen is currently on the faculty at Northwestern University. His most recent recording, “French Horn Recital from 24 Preludes, Op. 11 by Alexander Scriabin” with pianist Craig Terry, was released on the Orpheus Classical label. Congratulations! Lyric Opera of Chicago wishes to express its enduring gratitude, and warm congratulations, to these company members who will retire at the conclusion of the season. LAUREEN JANECZEK WYSOCKI, Soprano The soprano has been a member of the Lyric Opera Chorus for 37 years, a tenure that included taking part in the Emmy Award-winning production of Pagliacci in 2021. She has performed with Basically Bach, Lira Singers, the Savoyaires, and the Chicago Symphony Chorus, including a 1989 European tour with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under Sir George Solti. Janaczek Wysocki has been a National Anthem soloist for the Chicago White Sox and a soloist at Moraine Valley and many other churches, specializing in the Latin Mass. BILL WALTERS, Assistant Stage Manager/Super Captain The Chicago native began his Lyric Opera career as an Actor in Sweeney Todd (2000/01) and Madama Butterfly (2003/04). Since joining Lyric as an Assistant Stage Manager and the company’s Super Captain in 2005/06 Season, he has organized auditions and casting for more than 2,500 supernumerary roles in over 140 operas. Before coming to Lyric, Walters was an actor at Candlelight Dinner Playhouse in Summit, Illinois, appearing in 25 productions from 1982-1987, and served as stage manager there for 35 productions from 1988-1997. He has stage managed at Drury Lane Oakbrook, Apple Tree Theatre in Highland Park, the Barn Theatre in Augusta, Michigan, Porchlight Revisits, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Ravinia, and Chicago Folks Operetta. BRUCE WOODRUFF, Layout Welder Woodruff joined Lyric Opera of Chicago prior to the 1997/98 Season, working primarily in the metal shop, and frequently with the company’s hydraulic and pneumatic lift equipment. Prior to joining Lyric, starting in 1984, he worked at Chicago Scenic, a fabrication and design studio. Among many notable projects, he was instrumental in designing and constructing a bed that could emerge from beneath the stage, carrying Sondra Radvanovsky in the 2014/15 production of Anna Bolena .