Kendra Preston Leonard
Biography
Experience
Librettist and Lyricist
Projects and Media
Schedule
Recent Highlights
Description
My song cycle with composer Keane Southard, “Felling,” which focuses on deforestation, will be premiered by baritone Daniel Laverriere and Brendon Shapiro, piano, 11 February 2023 at 7:30 PM in Pickman Hall at the Longy School of Music, Boston.
Kendra Preston Leonard
Lyricist
Dates
Description
On April 23, hear my bubbly and fun choral work with composer Jena Root, “Past the Moon” premiered by the Good Company Vocal Ensemble on their Lost in the Stars concert.
Kendra Preston Leonard
Lyricist
Dates
Description
Opera Elect made an opera movie of Sense of Self in 2021, and now they are producing the first live performnace of the opera at New Music Gathering on Friday, June 23 at 2:00 p.m. at Portland State University at Lincoln Hall, located at1620 SW Park Ave, Portland. The concert is free, so please join us for this event! You can read and download the libretto at https://hcommons.org/app/uploads/sites/1001127/2023/03/Sense-of-Self-libretto-NMG2023.pdf.
Kendra Preston Leonard
Librettist
Dates
Description
Opera Contempo reading of Act I of PROTECTRESS, a new opera by Kendra Preston Leonard and Jessica Rudman. PROTECTRESS is a modern sequel to the Medusa myth that explores compassion and solidarity in relation to rape culture, victim blaming, and the processing of trauma.
November 17, 2023: 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM MST; Thompson Concert Hall, 1375 Presidents' Cir, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
Kendra Preston Leonard
Librettist
Dates
Biography
Kendra Preston Leonard
Kendra Preston Leonard is a lyricist and librettist who tells stories about empowerment, resilience, and compassion. She is inspired by history, language, nature, and myth. Leonard’s lyrics and libretti have been set by numerous composers and have been performed around the world. Recent works include Sense of Self, created with composer Lisa Neher and commissioned and premiered by Opera Elect in 2021; Waters Rising, with composer Tim Hick, commissioned by Arts Capacity and Walker State Faith and Character Based Prison; Marie Curie Learns to Swim, with music by Jessica Rudman, performed by Hartford Opera Theater in 2018; and The Harbingers, with music by Rosśa Crean, premiered in 2019. In 2021, she and Neher created and produced the One Voice Micro-Opera Project, featuring singers Zach Finkelstein in Now Available; Margaret O’Connell in Woman Waits with Sword; Hugo Vera in Wide Awake in the New City; and Audrey Yoder in Par for the Course. Current projects include the operas Protectress, with music by Jessica Rudman; Montevergine, with music by Steven Sérpa, commissioned by Opera Queens; Anna Édes, with music by Kathryn Woodard; and two song cycles, among others.
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