Liza Calisesi Maidens

Liza Calisesi Maidens is a member of the conducting faculty at Eastern Michigan University where she conducts the University Women's Choir. Most recently, the choir was invited to perform at the 2019 ACDA-Michigan Conference and was the featured chorus in the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s 2018 French Fest performance of Debussy’s Nocturnes at Orchestra Hall.

Currently, Liza is pursuing a DMA in choral conducting at Michigan State University, where she has enjoyed assistant conducting University Chorale and Women's Chamber Ensemble. She is a Graduate Fellow for the Residential College for Arts and Humanities at MSU which contributes directly to the scholarship of teaching in the areas of the humanities, visual and performing arts, and community engagement. She holds a master's degree from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey and a bachelor's degree from Central College in Pella, Iowa.

Liza serves as the R&R Chair for Women’s Choirs for Michigan-ACDA and is an active guest conductor, clinician, and presenter. She recently provided sessions at the state Colorado and Michigan ACDA Conferences, the Michigan Music Conference, and looks forward to presenting at the 2021 National ACDA Conference in Dallas. Liza has performed professionally with the Philadelphia Symphonic Choir and sounding light. She is grateful for all of her teachers and mentors - David Rayl, Sandra Snow, Jonathan Reed, Joe Miller, Amanda Quist, Steve Pilkington, Mark Babcock, and Brandon Johnson.