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Lesley Leighton

Lesley Leighton

Associate Professor, Department Chair, Director of Conducting & Choral Activities

Contact

Associate Professor
Music
Office Phone(909) 537-5467
Office LocationPA-207
Department Chair
Music
Office Phone(909) 537-5866
Office LocationPA-113

Bio

Leighton has conducted and sung on over 110 film and television soundtracks and has worked with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Master Chorale, and Los Angeles Opera. She has worked with Gustavo Dudamel, Esa-Pekka Salonen, John Adams, the late Pierre Boulez, and Bramwell Tovey. She has premiered more than 50 new compositions and has collaborated with composers such as David Lang, John Wineglass, and Ted Hearn on premieres of their works. She was the Associate Conductor of Los Angeles Master Chorale for six years, and has conducted for the Ojai Festival, LA Phil, and LA Opera. She is currently teaching conducting and choral music at CSUSB, and is the Principal Guest Conductor of San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra. Her most recent soundtrack recordings include Tiger's Apprentice, Avatar: Way of the Water, Disenchanted, and Chuky.

Education

DMA, conducting, University of Southern California

MM, vocal performance, University of Southern California

BA, conducting, Loyola Marymount University

Courses/Teaching

MUS 3860 Chamber Singers

MUS 2100 Beginning Conducting

MUS 3010 Adv Choral Conducting

MUS 4040 Professional Conducting

Specialization

Conducting

Research and Teaching Interests

Conducting, Soundtrack Recording, Voice