“Seldom has scholarly sleuthing in dusty corners of early choral music yielded so many miniature treasures. More please.” John von Rhein, Chicago Classical Review
Liza Calisesi Maidens, DMA is an Assistant Professor and the Director of Choral Activities at the University of Illinois Chicago. Recently, the UIC Chamber Choir was invited to perform at the state conferences for the Illinois Music Educators Association (IMEC) and the Illinois Choral Directors Association (IL-ACDA). Prior to her appointment at UIC, she was a member of the conducting faculty at Eastern Michigan University from 2015-2021, where her choirs enjoyed invitations to perform at Michigan-ACDA, Detroit’s Orchestra Hall, and the Detroit Opera House.
In 2025, Dr. Calisesi Maidens was the recipient of the UIC Researcher of the Year – Rising Star. This is awarded annually to five faculty by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, with a ceremony held at the Field Museum. Liza’s research centers around the expansion of the choral canon, the life and works of Imogen Holst, and undergraduate student belonging. Centaur Records released her album, Expanding the Choral Canon with Bella Voce. The album topped Apple Music’s Early Music Playlist, was a finalist for The American Prize – Professional Chorus Division, and is frequently played on WFMT – Chicago’s Classical Music Radio Station.
As an adjudicator and clinician, she has presented interest sessions at state, regional, national, and international conferences of the American Choral Directors Association, the College Music Society, and the International Society for Music Education. Recent engagements involve students and audiences in Arkansas, Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, Ohio, Nevada, Washington, and Italy.
Liza has served on the boards for Michigan and Illinois ACDA, and has sung professionally with the Philadelphia Symphonic Choir, Mirabai, and Sounding Light. Her editions are published by MusicSpoke.