Indy singer songwriter based in Maine by way of Connecticut, Boston and the Bay Area.

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Mezzo-soprano, Margaret Lias, has been celebrated for her “warm,” “arresting,” and “rich-toned” singing. Since her Boston Symphony Hall debut in 2011 with Handel and Haydn Society (Handel, Israel in Egypt), Margaret has been a frequent soloist under the baton of Harry Christophers. In 2015, Margaret received praise for her Lincoln Center solo debut singing Mozart’s Requiem. Select solo appearances in 2018 and 2019 include Boston Baroque (Monteverdi, L’incoronazione di Poppea), Handel and Haydn Society (Bach, Mass in B Minor), Masterworks Chorale (works by Handel and Purcell), the Rhode Island Philharmonic (Handel, Messiah), Coro Allegro (Vivaldi, Gloria and Magnificat), Seraphic Fire (Vivaldi, Nisi Dominus), and Emmanuel Music (Harbison, The Supper at Emmaus).

A passionate supporter of Anglican liturgical music, Margaret has been a sought-after cantor for events such as bishop consecrations, priest ordinations, and Holy Week services in major cathedrals and churches in the US (St. John the Divine, New York, NY, Trinity Church in the City of Boston, MA, and Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta, GA) and abroad (Westminster Abbey (The Collegiate Church of St. Peter), London, England, and Coventry Cathedral (St. Michael’s Cathedral), Coventry, England.). Presently, Margaret is a core member of Emmanuel Music, ensemble-in-residence at Emmanuel Church, Boston, MA.

Margaret’s versatility as a singer allows her the opportunity to collaborate with other soloists to perform master choral works at a very high level easily transitioning from medieval and baroque music to classical, romantic, and contemporary repertoire. Margaret was a founding member of The Skylark Vocal Ensemble under Matthew Guard. She has performed frequently with Seraphic Fire under Patrick Dupré Quigley, Boston Baroque under Martin Pearlman, Voices of Ascension under Dennis Keene, Sacred Music in a Sacred Space under K. Scott Warren, Emmanuel Music under Ryan Turner, and Musica Sacra New York under Kent Tritle.  

Sought after for her administrative talents, Margaret was named chorus representative for Handel and Haydn Society in 2009 and served on the Board of Directors for Lorelei Ensemble. Additionally, Margaret is deeply honored to serve as Development Director for Emmanuel Music.

Margaret began vocal studies at the age of 13 but had already been a student of the Royal School of Church Music curriculum from age 7. As a teenager, Margaret participated in community education studies at Eastman School of Music and eventually went on to collegiate coursework there as well. Presently, Margaret studies with Rebecca Folsom.

Not Dark Yet - Nathan Parker Smith Large Ensemble
“It’s a concentrated, potent dose of thundering jazz-metal power, more orchestral than big-band, thrilling no matter how you categorize it.” Phil Freeman, Burning Ambulance. 

“Don’t let the eighteen-member size of this jazz band scare you. This isn’t Grandpa’s big band, nor your Dad’s. Nor necessarily anybody else who’s into big band jazz. The Nathan Parker Smith Large Ensemble, perhaps the world’s only modern creative heavy metal horn band, is for the rest of us.” S. Victory Aaron, Something Else Reviews. 

“…[a] band that just about blows down the house… This is blockbuster, even bruising, music with little respite on the program; such vigorous music might scare some folks away, [I] can’t wait to hear this ensemble live.” Richard B. Kamins, Step Tempest. 

“…[a] seriously aggressive large ensemble… Music that speaks loudly and carries a big stick, too.” Dave Sumner, Wondering Sound. 

“…[a] muscular, bracingly intricate new disc…” Time Out New York. 
Nathan Parker Smith Large Ensemble 

Woodwinds 
Kevin Russell, Chris Shade, Michael Thomas, Justin Flynn, Alden Banta. 

Trumpets 
Augie Haas, David Smith, Josh Deutsch, Matt Holman. 

Trombones 
Matthew McDonald, Nick Finzer, JC Sanford, James Rogers. 

Rhythm 
Landon Knoblock, Rhodes. Kenji Shinagawa, guitar. Russ Flynn, bass. Jared Schonig, drums.
credits
released 14 October 2014 

Recorded at Let ‘em In Studio, Brooklyn, NY on 8/26, 9/13, 9/30, & 10/7 2014 by Luke Moellman and Brian Losch. Mixed by Luke Moellman & Nathan Parker Smith. Mastered by Randy Merrill at Sterling Sound. Produced by Nathan Parker Smith. Funding for tracks 2,3, & 11 provided by the BMI Manny Albam Commission. All compositions by Nathan Parker Smith, © 2014 NPSMUSIC/ASCAP. Exclusively licensed to Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records, LLC. Made in the U.S.A. All rights reserved. Unauthorised duplication is a violation of applicable laws.

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