Margaret Lias
Supports: common cathedral (outdoor homeless ministry), Episcopal Relief and Development (social justice)
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. In 2015, Margaret received praise for her Lincoln Center solo debut singing Mozart’s Requiem. Select solo appearances in 2018 and 2019 include Boston Baroque (Monteverdi, L’incoronazione di Poppea), Handel and Haydn Society (Bach,Mass in B Minor), Masterworks Chorale (works by Handel and Purcell), the Rhode Island Philharmonic (Handel, Messiah), Coro Allegro (Vivaldi, Gloria and Magnificat), UMass Amherst Bach Festival (Bach, St. Matthew Passion), and Emmanuel Music (Harbison, The Supper at Emmaus).
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.). Presently, Margaret is a core member of Emmanuel Music, ensemble-in-residence at Emmanuel Church, Boston, MA.
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 was a founding member of The Skylark Vocal Ensemble under Matthew Guard. She has performed frequently with Seraphic Fire under Patrick Dupré Quigley, Boston Baroque under Martin Pearlman, Voices of Ascension under Dennis Keene, Sacred Music in a Sacred Space under K. Scott Warren, Emmanuel Music under Ryan Turner, and Musica Sacra New York under Kent Tritle.
Sought after for her administrative talents, Margaret was named chorus representative for Handel and Haydn Society in 2009 and served on the Board of Directors for Lorelei Ensemble. Additionally, Margaret is deeply honored to serve as Development Director for Emmanuel Music.
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. Presently, Margaret studies with Rebecca Folsom.