Lidia Riley, Executive Director
Executive Director Lidia Riley was raised in a musical family in West Peoria, Illinois. A graduate of Bradley University’s Music Business program, she interned with the Peoria Symphony Orchestra and worked at the Renaissance Coliseum throughout college. She held volunteer arts administrative positions as well, acting as the manager of both the Bradley Opera Youth Outreach and the Bradley Community Chorus. She moved to the west coast to work with San Diego’s Mainly Mozart as the Youth Orchestra manager, helping to grow that program by 20%, as well as work in the marketing department and box office for the Festival Orchestra.
A growing family brought her and her husband back home to Peoria, where she worked as the Lesson Coordinator at Kidder Music before ultimately returning to nonprofit work at YMI. She is grateful to have been able to work in music for so long, connecting young musicians to professionals that can help them develop their skills. Lidia still participates in Bradley’s Community Chorus whenever she can and likes to attend theatre and art events around the area. She lives in East Peoria with her husband Sam, their son Max, and an ever-increasing number of houseplants.
Executive Director Lidia Riley was raised in a musical family in West Peoria, Illinois. A graduate of Bradley University’s Music Business program, she interned with the Peoria Symphony Orchestra and worked at the Renaissance Coliseum throughout college. She held volunteer arts administrative positions as well, acting as the manager of both the Bradley Opera Youth Outreach and the Bradley Community Chorus. She moved to the west coast to work with San Diego’s Mainly Mozart as the Youth Orchestra manager, helping to grow that program by 20%, as well as work in the marketing department and box office for the Festival Orchestra.
A growing family brought her and her husband back home to Peoria, where she worked as the Lesson Coordinator at Kidder Music before ultimately returning to nonprofit work at YMI. She is grateful to have been able to work in music for so long, connecting young musicians to professionals that can help them develop their skills. Lidia still participates in Bradley’s Community Chorus whenever she can and likes to attend theatre and art events around the area. She lives in East Peoria with her husband Sam, their son Max, and an ever-increasing number of houseplants.