About Us

 Elizabeth Heuermann was appointed General/Artistic Director in June 2011. Since then, she has made it her mission to keep opera vibrant and relevant in this New Millennium not only in the New York area but on a global level.  With the NY Lyric, she has produced over 375 performances to sold-out audiences at locations such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, National Opera Center, Symphony Space Theatre on Broadway, and DiMenna Center for the Performing Arts. This season under her leadership, NY Lyric will produce over 20 shows and Summer Music Program, where singers from all over the world participate. In addition to producing, Ms. Heuermann has developed our Annual National Vocal Competition to award excellence in opera. Regional locations have included: San Francisco Conservatory of Music, University of Chicago, New England Conservatory of Music (Boston), DePaul University (Chicago), University of North Texas (Dallas), University of Miami, National Opera Center (New York), University of Utah (Salt Lake City), Bradley University. Singers of all ages across the country compete to perform at Carnegie Hall and for thousands of dollars in cash prizes. As a performer, her recent Carnegie Hall credits include Gilda (Rigoletto), Lucia (Lucia di Lammermoor), Pamina (Die Zauberflöte), the Title Role in Manon, Juliette (Roméo et Juliette), Musetta (La Bohème) Adele (Die Fledermaus), and Contessa Almaviva (Le Nozze di Figaro). Other performances: Juliette in Roméo et Juliette (NY Arena in Times Square), Title Role in Rusalka (AIMS Festival in Graz, Austria), Title Role in Manon (NYC’s prestigious 92nd Street Y), Lisa in Das Land des Lächelns (AIMS Festival in Graz, Austria).  Musetta in La Bohème (Symphony Space on Broadway, Apollo Theatre, Kaliope Opera of Long Island), Gilda in Rigoletto (Austin Lyric Opera, Opera Illinois, Symphony Space), Soprano Soloist in St. John’s Passion (St. Paul’s Orchestra), Norina in Don Pasquale (Milwaukee Opera), Gretel in Hansel and Gretel (Opera Illinois), and Contessa Almaviva in Le Nozze di Figaro (Apollo Theatre), and Lucy in The Telephone (St. Martin Chamber Players).
 

 Originally from the East Coast, Mark Skirkanich attended The University of New Hampshire, studying business. He transferred to Monmouth University in New Jersey and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing. Shortly after graduation he relocated to Jacksonville Florida, where he worked for Bay Point Real Estate Group in property management and client relations.  While in Jacksonville, Mark did fundraising for high school sports teams and music departments.   In early 2018, Mark relocated to Southwest Florida where he works as a realtor at Coldwell Banker in Marco Island. He has been volunteering for the NY Lyric since 2018.  He has assisted the Summer Program shows, rehearsals, and special events. In addition, he has traveled across the U.S. to assist in the auditions for the competition, summer and season and Competition Semi-finals and Finals at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, University of Chicago, New England Conservatory of Music, University of Utah, University of North Texas, DePaul University, University of Miami, National Opera Center & Carnegie Hall in NYC. He has been an integral part of the audition location expansion across the U.S., visiting universities and conservatories in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Massachusetts. He has been working in the capacity of marketing and fundraising by creating our database, website, marketing materials, mailings, and donor outreach.