Lillian Sieb

Lillian Messina Sieb passed away on April 10, 2024 at the age of 94. She was born in Brooklyn, NY on March 8, 1930 to Anthony Messina and Mary Sgroi Messina. She was heard singing while attending a church service as a young child, and it was then that her musical talent was discovered. Her musical education began at age eight with singing lessons followed by piano lessons a few years later. Lillian began weekly performances on radio with a children’s’ radio program in New York City. All of this was followed by acceptance into the High School of Music and Art in Manhattan (in New York City) – a special high school program that included many hours of music education in addition to academic studies. Lillian’s piano performances included annual recitals at Steinway Hall in Manhattan and in 1950 she was a piano soloist with a symphony orchestra performing Mendelssohn’s G minor Concerto at Town Hall in Manhattan. However, it was her love of singing that truly captured her interest – to play an instrument that can’t be seen and can’t be touched, challenged her. It was then that she focused on a career in voice. In 1957 she entered the Metropolitan Opera Auditions of the Air in competition throughout the United States and parts of Canada – and was declared winner of the auditions in 1958. Under the tutelage of the Metropolitan, Opera Lillian was awarded the Katherine Long Scholarship and entered its grooming program with studies in languages, staging and acting under the guidance of the American actress Uta Hagen. She was awarded the William Sullivan Foundation Scholarship as well as the Rockefeller Foundation Scholarship for several years. Lillian became a member of the Metropolitan Opera’s young opera company under the direction of George Schick and sang leading roles with the Boston Opera Company under the direction of Sarah Caldwell; the New York City Opera under the direction of Julius Rudel; and toured throughout the United States in solo performances with various symphony orchestras. In 1970, with her marriage to photographer Fred Sieb, Lillian decided to leave her career (and to leave Brooklyn NY, as well) and move with her husband to North Conway N.H. Her husband Fred predeceased her in 2007. Her older brother Joseph Messina of Westport CT died in 2021 and she is survived by her younger brother Roy Messina of Middletown, NJ. She is also survived by Joseph’s and Roy’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. There will be visiting hours held by Furber Funeral Home and cremations services on May 10th, from 4-6 pm.