Megan Gillis is the co-founder and Executive Director of City Lyric Opera. She believes in creating art that is engaging, affordable, and accessible to all people and is thrilled to be at the helm of a company that works to create a welcoming platform for young opera singers and invites all audiences to be a part of their artistic process. Megan is an active arts administrator having worked with organizations such as Steinway & Sons and World Music Projects, and organized events for BeethovenHaus, Carnegie Hall, Kristen Chenoweth, Lincoln Center, The Drama Desk Awards, Chamber Music America, and ASCAP. Megan is also a highly collaborative clinician and speaker having given master classes and talks in collaboration with The University of Florida, Georgia College and State University, Newberry College, and Coker University. She continues to expand her passion for music on the stage as well. Megan graduated from the University of Georgia ('13) and Manhattan School of Music ('15) with degrees in Vocal Performance and has performed roles such as Fiordiligi in Cosi fan tutte, Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, and Gertrude Stein in The Mother of Us All. Megan made her international debut in 2012 at the Gottisher Saal in Salzburg, Austria performing Countess Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro. She also travels and collaborates frequently with The Masterson Ensemble, a musical group comprised of herself, baritone Thaddaeus Bourn and pianist Sarah Masterson. Her music making has also brought her around the world and across various genres. In the fall of 2018, Megan traveled to Iceland to perform with 40 other musicians with Apartment Sessions, a Brooklyn-based multi-media artist collective and has performed at House of YES and Rockwood Music Hall.