Lesley Leighton
Voice Instrument: Conductor, Soprano
Bio:
Bio:
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
Education: BA in choral conducting from Loyola Marymount University with Paul Salamunovich; studied conducting with William Hatcher at UCLA; MM in vocal performance from the University of Southern California with Judith Oas Natalucci; DMA in choral conducting from the University of Southern California
Other conducting positions: Artistic Director of the Los Robles Master Chorale (LRMC), Music Director of the New West Symphony Chorus and Director of the UCLA Choral Union
As a conductor/clinician: prepped for Gustavo Dudamel and Diego Matheuz at the Hollywood Bowl, summer 2015; presented a reading session for ACDA, Sep 2015; appeared as a guest clinician for conducting seminar for LAUSD teachers, Oct 2015; appeared as guest speaker for the LA Philharmonic Business & Professional Committee, Nov 2015; prepped Judas Maccabeus for Neal Stulberg at UCLA, Dec 2015; served as co-producer with David Lang for LAMCs soon-to-be-released album of Lang's music, Jan 2016; conducted the off-stage chorus for The Planets for the LA Philharmonic education program, Feb 2016; conducted Carmina Burana with the UCLA Choral Union and Sinfonia Orchestra, Mar 2016; prepped Los Robles Master Chorale for John Adams at LA Phil's Green Umbrella series of contemporary music, Apr 2016
As a professional singer: has performed with many of the world’s most eminent conductors, including Pierre Boulez, Zubin Mehta, the late Lorin Maazel, Simon Rattle, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Leonard Slatkin, the late Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, Roger Norrington, Gustavo Dudamel and Grant Gershon; opera credits include principal appearances with New York City Opera, Los Angeles Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, Köln Opera and Glyndebourne; has sung on more than 50 film soundtracks
As an educator: in addition to appearing as an adjudicator and guest clinician, has taught five years of chorus at the high school level, six years at the university level and inaugurated Los Robles Master Chorale’s annual High School Choral Festival, High School Leadership Workshop and its Young Composers Competition; currently Director of the UCLA Choral Union
