About Us
The Motor City Lyric Opera is a non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring and educating students and
families in the metropolitan Detroit area, through highly artistic musical presentations. We believe that the expression of the arts is a humanistic universal right that transcends social and economic boundaries and should be available to everyone.
Through our colorful, captivating, and values-focused programs, we strive to inspire and elevate the
hearts and minds of metropolitan Detroit.
As state budgets and school funding are slashed, school arts programs are frequently the first to be cut.
The Motor City Lyric Opera believes aspirations and dreams that inspire future generations become
limited when exposure to the arts is reduced or completely lost. Through Opera on Wheels, our outreach
program, we bring interactive opera productions with themes of inspiration and hope, encouraging
children to reflect on how we treat each other.
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Vision: Dedicate our organization to being a part of the Detroit Renaissance, embracing the community
with productions of the highest artistic integrity.
Purpose: Use the Arts to elevate, inspire, and educate. Nurture a culture of artistic experiences for school
children, families, and underserved community members.
Since our inception in 2002, we have reached over 1,000,000 students and seniors through the
transformative power of great, unamplified music-free of charge.
MARY CALLAGHAN LYNCH (FOUNDER, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR)
Mary Callaghan Lynch is the 14th of 18 children. She and her twin brother, Joseph were born a week before Christmas--hence the symbolic names. (Interestingly, if it weren’t for the Christmas connection, Mary was to have been named Cecelia—after the patron saint of music.)
Mary’s parents (Mary O’Brien and John Callaghan) met in high school when they were cast as the romantic leads in the G & S operetta, H.M.S. Pinafore. They both attended Syracuse University on full
scholarship—Mary for voice, John for organ—and married at the end of Mary’s freshman year.
The Callaghan home was filled with religious art and music. Mary’s father worked three jobs to support the family. Not surprisingly, family outings were not an option. However, each holiday season, all would
gather around a rarely watched television to revel in Gian-Carlo Menotti’s “Amahl & the Night Visitor." It became Mary’s most cherished holiday memory.
Mary received her BFA from Marygrove College in Detroit—where she enjoyed “being in the right place at the right time.” The training she received was invaluable. As an undergraduate, Mary began performing with The Michigan Opera Theatre and performed in commercials and musical theatre. While singing at a funeral, she met her future husband, Patrick (who happened to be the funeral director).
Patrick had his own musical legacy—his grandmother, Marvel O’Hara, was an accomplished coloratura soprano who discovered and mentored George Shirley—the first African American singer to perform at The Metropolitan Opera.
Mary and Patrick have two children: their daughter, Caitlin, has grown to become a well-regarded opera singer, performing with various opera companies and made her Metropolitan Opera debut in March 2013 where she continues to perform.
Their son, Paddy, has joined his father in the family business and is the owner of The Schvitz Bath house and Dutch Girl Donuts - both in Detroit.
Mary served as Aretha Franklin’s opera coach, teaching her several arias, including Luciano Pavarotti’s signature aria, “Nessun Dorma.” Aretha Franklin performed the aria at Pavarotti’s request at the Waldorf in New York City and again the following week at the Grammy Awards—with a mere 35-minute notice. It was a stunning success, and numerous orchestras sought her to perform the aria with their musicians.
When approached to do a benefit for the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) community in 1999, Mary decided to produce and perform in “Amahl & the Night Visitors”—the cherished performance from her childhood memory. This led to the opera being presented at The Music Hall Center in 2001. It featured renowned composer Gian-Carlo Menotti as director of the 50th anniversary production. In addition, Paula Tutman of WDIV-TV produced a documentary—and it was shown as part of the celebration.
In 2002, Mary established The Motor City Lyric Opera to bring music—with a focus on ethics—to the inner-city students and families of Detroit. Since that time, over 1,000,000 students seniors, and patients have experienced the transformative power of music—free of charge.
Mary continues to sing annually at The Motor City Lyric Opera’s Patricktide and other various venues.
OUR ESTEEMED BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Motor City Lyric Opera board is a collection of dedicated professionals who believe in the mission to inspire and educate students and families in the metropolitan Detroit area through highly artistic musical presentations. The members share their expertise--legal, corporate, educational, and entrepreneurial. They also serve as dedicated volunteers, coordinators, and contributors to our organization.
Mr. Edward D. Callaghan
Edward D. Callaghan has been a board member of MCLO since 2002. He currently serves on the board of Henry Ford Health System, Walsh college, Michigan Schools and Government Credit Union, and the Alliance for Excellence in online education. Previously he served on the board of directors for Brother Rice High School and Gilda’s Club. Dr. Callaghan was appointed as Chair of the Michigan Employment Relations Commission on June 20, 2011 and was re-appointed on June 6, 2014. Dr. Callaghan has been a full-time faculty member at Oakland Community College (OCC) since 2005. He previously served as President of OCC’s Orchard Ridge campus and as Vice Chancellor for Human Resources and College Communications. Chair Callaghan has negotiated labor contracts in the public sector for more than 30 years representing public employers, including: the Dearborn Public Schools, Wayne County Community College, Henry Ford Community College and Oakland Community College.
Dr. Callaghan’s extensive collective bargaining experience includes: handling MERC elections, unfair labor practice claims, and mediation cases. He also served as an Act 312 arbitrator for police and fire municipal disputes and as a fact finder for governmental units in Michigan – both on behalf of the Michigan Employment Labor Relations Commission.
Maggie Currier
Maggie is a Vice President/Relationship Manager at Birmingham Office, Bank of Ann Arbor. She is responsible for developing new customer relationships and for assisting customers of the bank with special business requirements.
Maggie graduated from Marian High School in Bloomfield Hills and from Michigan State University with a B.A. in communication Arts and Science. She is on the Board of Motor City Lyric Opera, and an active member in Christ Child Society of Detroit, Habitat for Humanity Women’s Build Steering Committee, and
the Village Women’s Club.
Maggie and her husband of 25 years, Billy Currier, are lifelong residents of the Birmingham area, where they raised their two grown children: Mary Kate, a third grade teacher in Santa Clara California, and Matthew, a banker in Birmingham. Maggie enjoys spending time with friends and family, practicing
yoga and walking around town with the family dog Francis the canine mayor of Beverly Hills.
Dr. Norah Duncan, IV
Dr. Norah Duncan, IV currently holds the position of Professor of Music at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. He teaches music theory, private organ, piano skills, and is the choral conductor of the WSU Choral Union. From 2013 to 2023, Duncan was the music department chair. During the 2024-2025 academic year, he is the WSU Murray E Jackson Creative Scholar in the Arts and is engaged as an artistic and creative resource to the campus. Dr. Duncan received his undergraduate degree (BA) from the University of Detroit, his MM degree from Wayne State University, and his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Organ Performance from the University of Michigan.
Dr. Duncan is a multi-faceted musician. As an organist, he has performed extensively in both the United States and in Europe. Recently, he has presented organ recitals throughout Michigan as well as in Germany and in Australia. As a liturgical musician, he was music director and principal organist for the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit for over 26 years. Among his greatest achievements during that tenure was the honor of serving as Director of Music for Pope John Paul II’s visit to Detroit in 1987.
Dr. Duncan, in collaboration with the Benedictine Monastery in Solesmes, France, also was instrumental in establishing the Gregorian Institute of Detroit for the study of Gregorian chant. Additionally, he has presented papers on liturgical music at international meetings, clinics and workshops in Rome and Dublin, and for the Diocese of Enugu and the Archdiocese of Abuja in Nigeria.
As a choral conductor, Dr. Duncan presented performances of several major choral/orchestral works under the Cathedral Cultural Series with Detroit’s Archdiocesan Chorus. He has also collaborated in concerts with many Detroit area choral ensembles. Duncan has also prepared choruses for performances with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Civic Symphony Orchestra and the Grosse Point Symphony Orchestra. Duncan’s choral and vocal compositions are published by GIA Publications and Augsburg Press.
Dr. Duncan is the recipient of the Award for Excellence for Musical Direction presented by the American College Theater Festival in Washington, D.C.; the Sr. Thea Bowman Award from the Archdiocese of Detroit; the Spirit of Detroit Award; and the Mother Teresa Duchemin Award for exemplary community service. In 2006, he became the first recipient of the Changing Lives Through Music Award presented by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. In 2008, Wayne State University presented him with its Board of Governors Faculty Recognition Award for his contributions to academic excellence and scholarship. And in 2009, he was the recipient of an Alumni Award for community partnerships.
Dr. Mary Fisher
Born in the nation's capital and raised in the City of Detroit, Dr. Mary Fisher has been practicing dentistry in the West Bloomfield area since 1981. A graduate of Gesu grade school and Rochester High School, Dr. Fisher attended Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan before attending University of Detroit Dental School where she received her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree (DDS) in 1981. Dr. Fisher is committed to providing a standard of excellence in patient care and demonstrates a commitment to excellence through ongoing continuing education.
In 1982, Dr. Fisher established a mobile practice, Michigan Geriatric Dental Care, in an effort to better serve the geriatric and home-bound population in the Metropolitan Detroit tri-county area. Since 1987, Dr. Fisher has partnered with Premier Healthcare Management in providing dental care to William Beaumont Hospital Affiliates' extended care facilities. Michigan Geriatric Dental Care treats patients that are home-bound, in skilled nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
Dr. Fisher is a member of the Oakland County Dental Society, the Michigan Dental Association and its Forensic Dental Identification Team (FDIT), the American Dental Association, the International Congress of Oral Implantologists and COHA, Coalition for Oral Health for the Aging. Dr. Fisher enjoys staying connected to her alma mater undergraduate and graduate educational institutions. She is a trustee at the University of Detroit Mercy and supports Oakland University by serving as an ambassador in the community to the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS). Dr. Fisher also enjoys serving on the board of directors for Motor City Lyric Opera, a non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring and educating students and families in the Detroit area, particularly the under-served, through highly artistic musical presentations.
Dentist, mother and grandmother, Dr. Fisher and her husband, Gordon Follmer, reside in Hartland, Michigan. Together they have nine children and fifteen grandchildren.
Mr. Patrick McQueen
Consultant
Patrick M. McQueen has joined the McQueen Financial Advisors team as a managing director. His primary responsibilities include managing client relationships and consulting on financial institution matters.
Mr. McQueen brings an extensive resume to the financial services team from both the private and public sectors. Previously, he served in numerous capacities for The PrivateBank (formerly The Bank of Bloomfield Hills) and its Michigan affiliate, including chairman, president and CEO of the Michigan operation. The PrivateBank is a Chicago headquartered $15 billion financial institution with branches and offices in 12 states. The bank specializes in middle market commercial lending, private banking and wealth management.
Prior to joining The PrivateBank in 1999, Mr. McQueen served six years as commissioner of the Michigan Financial Institutions Bureau, where he successfully led efforts to expand powers of financial institutions, including the sale of insurance and branching on an inter-state basis.
As Michigan's chief banking regulator, Mr. McQueen was responsible for overseeing 140 state-chartered banks, nine state savings banks, 350 credit unions and more than 4,000 other non-depository lenders. He also served as acting commissioner of the Michigan Insurance Bureau in 1995.
"Pat's extensive experience and comprehensive understanding of the banking industry will enhance the core services offered at McQueen Financial and further strengthen our ability to meet the needs of our clients," said Charles N. McQueen. "His insight will greatly benefit McQueen Financial and our clients. We are extremely pleased to have him join our team."
Before his tenure in state government, Mr. McQueen served over 23 years at Manufacturer's Bank (now Comerica), where he most recently was senior vice president.
Mr. McQueen currently serves on the EnerBank U.S.A. Board of Directors, a Utah based industrial loan bank, as well as on the Brother Rice High School Board and the Motor City Lyric Opera Board. Mr. McQueen is also a trustee of the Citizens Research Council and has served on numerous other not for profit boards including the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Angel's Place and the Detroit Athletic Club.
Previously, Mr. McQueen was an active member of the Conference of State Bank Supervisors and the National Association of State Credit Union Supervisors, The Consumer Bankers Association and the Spirit of Detroit Association.
"Pat's vast knowledge and background within the banking and regulatory industry will not only benefit McQueen Financial Advisors, but more importantly, our clients. He is a proven leader in the banking industry and adds another pillar of strength that our clients can rely upon," added Craig M. Sicilia, managing director of McQueen Financial Advisors.
Mr. McQueen holds an M.B.A. from Michigan State University, a B.B.A. from the University of Michigan – Dearborn, as well as certification from the University of Virginia Graduate School of Banking.
Donna Rhodes
Grant Writer
Donna Rhodes has a bachelor’s in education, majoring in special education, emotionally impaired and the educable mentally impaired. She has a master’s in social psychology and is an educational specialist in curriculum and instruction. Donna Rhodes has 46 years in education with experiences from preschool through high school with regular education and special education programs. She was a school psychologist implementing a program for young mothers and their infants. She also taught in a program for potentially learning-disabled four-year-olds and their parents. She worked for school districts across the country to implement the program design in their schools. Donna Rhodes was an Elementary Principal, a Curriculum Director, and a Superintendent.​​​
Josh Ronnenbaum
A native of Metro Detroit, Joshua has spent the last ten years developing his skills as a fundraiser and event planner for various political causes and community-based organizations. Joshua is also on the Board of the Palmer Woods Association, where he serves as Communication Chair, among other roles.
An attorney by trade, Joshua works for a small immigration law firm in Troy, specializing in asylum and employment-based immigration. After attending Cornell University as an undergraduate, Joshua spent the next four years teaching English in rural Japan, an experience that was as formative as it was rewarding. After Japan, he earned his master’s degree in Japanese studies from the University of Michigan and later attended law school and the University of Michigan. After graduating from law school, Joshua was drawn to immigration law, an area of practice that would allow him to help people ina tangible and meaningful way.
Joshua moved to his home in Palmer Woods, Detroit in 2013. His home, lovingly restored and renovated, serves as a backdrop for the many fundraisers he has hosted over the years, both large and small. In his free time, Joshua enjoys gardening, home projects, and entertaining friends at dinner parties and other gatherings. Joshua is a proud supporter of The Motor City Lyric Opera, which he was introduced to in 2021 by its Founder, Mary Callaghan Lynch.
Mara M. Letica Saad, Esq
Attorney, Letica Corporation
At Letica Corporation, Saad was responsible for all legal matters as well as corporate administration, finance, human resources, IT, and governmental affairs for a complex manufacturing business with facilities in 13 U.S. states.
Before joining Letica Corporation she practiced commercial and insurance defense litigation with the law firm now known as Bullivant, Houser Bailey P.C. in Portland, Oregon. She also served in the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney for
King County (Seattle), Washington.
She has a long history of political activism and support of charitable organizations and public policy initiatives.
Honorable Henry W. Saad
Michigan Court of Appeals
Retired Judge and former Chief Judge of the Michigan Court of Appeals Henry W. Saad serves as special counsel in Plunkett Cooney's Appellate Law Practice Group.
A member of the firm's Bloomfield Hills office, Judge Saad leverages his years of experience and legal counsel to the members of the appellate group who represent clients in litigation across the country. He also executes day-to-day responsibilities for a variety of multi-million dollar cases focused on complex business litigation in areas ranging from automotive to antitrust to complex contract and intellectual property.
During his over 40-year legal career, Judge Saad’s experience includes 20 years in private practice where he built a national reputation as a leading attorney specializing in complex drug liability litigation, media, libel law, labor and employment law and school law. This includes handling related appeals that resulted in nearly 20 published opinions. During his career as a lawyer and his tenure on the Michigan Court of Appeals, Judge Saad taught evidence, ethics
and labor law for over 40 years as an adjunct professor at Wayne
State University Law School and University of Detroit Mercy Law School.
In 1994, former Gov. John Engler appointed Saad to the Michigan Court of Appeals, a role he held for 23 years, including a term as Chief Judge of the Michigan Court of Appeals. During his tenure, Judge Saad served on the Governor's Task Force for Abused Children, and he also served as the Chair of the appellate court's Education Committee. Judge Saad was nominated to the federal district court by President George H.W. Bush and to the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit Court by President George W. Bush. Judge Saad retired from the appellate court in 2017.
In addition, while practicing law, Judge Saad served as a hearing referee for the Michigan Department
of Civil Rights, and he served as an arbitrator for the Michigan Employment Relations Commission.
Paula Tutman
Having spent most of her childhood in Sierra Leone, West Africa, and Tanzania, East Africa, Paula was always interested in story-telling, hence she was inclined to Journalism. A little-known fact maybe: apart from being a diligent journalist, Paula is also an award-winning author. Although she has written a plethora of books, one that really stood out was a riveting thriller novel, Deadline.
Paula made a big break in her career with her arrival at WDIV Local 4 Michigan back in 1992 as a teenager, Only 16 years of age. She has been serving the Local 4 News team as a general assignment officer from where she has recently retired. She is a recent inductee to The Michigan Broadcast Journalist’s Hall of Fame.
Apart from her journalism work, Paula is also involved in the community service which she considers her second full-time job. She handles the respect of Tutman tribe as the founder of Children’s Tooth Fairy Foundation, a non-profit that strives to provide education and dental care to uninsured and underserved children of Michigan. She is a proud board member of The Motor City Lyric Opera.
In 2008, Paula released her first novel “Deadline”. The riveting thriller was inspired by her own journalistic experience on the police beat and chronicles the story of a television reporter being stalked by a murderer. The book has been critically acclaimed and was selected as the 2009 Winner, Best General Fiction at the Hollywood Book Festival. Paula is a member of the International Thriller Writers, Debut Author Class of 2009 and a member of Sisters in Crime.
Dr. Barbara Yakes
Experienced Board Certified Occupational Medicine Physician for General Motors Corp. for 20 years.
Medical Director responsibilities in a variety of settings, both manufacturing and non-manufacturing, including administrative, wellness, EAP, Work Life, disability/work comp review, and OSHA compliance responsibilities.
Prior to medicine, extensive background in Psychiatric Nursing , with Psychiatric Nurse Supervisor experience.
A former singer, Barbara is passionate about bringing classical music to the students and families of Detroit.
Emeritus Board Members are Aretha Franklin, The Queen of Soul; Frank D. Stella, Madame Shirley Varrett , and Maggie Allesee
ADVISORY COUNCIL
The Motor City Lyric Opera Advisory & Honorary Boards are a significant resource for additional insight and endorsement for our mission.