2017 Lifetime Achievement Award

Maria Lagios

Maria Lagios, soprano, has enjoyed a long career as a performer and teacher.  She is Emeritus Faculty from North Park College, Wheaton College and Roosevelt University.  Presently she maintains a private voice studio consisting primarily of professional singers in Chicago’s historic Fine Arts Building. Her recording collaborations with Elizabeth Buccheri, Songs of Les Six, Jamie Shaak, Romance of Spain, and Dalton Baldwin, Songs from the Garden, project her artistic versatility.  Her passion for singing has taken her around the world of opera, art song and musical theater.  Among the many blessings in her work is the warm friendship she has enjoyed with Gerard Souzay, Dalton Baldwin, Martin Katz, John Duke and Gwyneth Walker.  During her 47 years of membership in NATS, she has served on the NATS Chicago Chapter Board, organized competitions, Festivals, presented master classes, and served as an adjudicator.   She credits her first voice teacher Priscilla Larrabee, as her guide into the joys and benefits of NATS.  Continuing her education at University of Michigan and Northwestern University, NATS  members Hermanus Baer and Richard Miller became a pivotal forces in developing her career.

Her guest appearances have included collaborations with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre de Bordeaux-Aquitaine, Chicago Baroque Ensemble, Chicago Brass Quintet, New Philharmonic, Fox Valley Symphony, Northwest Symphony, Elgin Symphony, Chicago String Ensemble, Chicago Opera Theater and Exsultate Trio.  She has been heard on television and radio, numerous PBS specials, Dame Myra Hess concert series, WFMT-Continental Bank and Live from Studio One.  Her work as a commercial studio voice over artist has been aired internationally.