Liza Calisesi Maidens, DMA is an Assistant Professor and the Director of Choral Activities at the University of Illinois Chicago. Prior to her appointment at UIC, she was a member of the conducting faculty at Eastern Michigan University from 2015-2021, where she conducted EMU Vision (formerly Women’s Choir), EMU Voces, and EMU Express. Her choirs have enjoyed invitations to perform at state music conferences in Illinois and Michigan, Detroit’s Orchestra Hall, and the Detroit Opera House. 

Dr. Calisesi Maidens’ research centers around the expansion of the choral canon, the life and works of Imogen Holst, and undergraduate student belonging. 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 serves on the Board of the IL-ACDA, and has sung professionally with the Philadelphia Symphonic Choir, mirabai, and sounding light. Her editions are published by MusicSpoke. 

Liza is grateful for all of her teachers and mentors - especially David Rayl, Sandra Snow, Jonathan Reed, Joe Miller, Amanda Quist, Steve Pilkington, Mark Babcock, and Brandon Johnson. 

She holds degrees from Michigan State University (DMA), Westminster Choir College (MM), Central College (BA).