Lesili Beard

Voice Part: Mezzo-soprano

Season you joined the Chorale: 2007-08

Birthplace: Ohio

Education/Vocal Training: Bachelor of Music, Flute Performance, Duquesne University; have studied voice privately for 10 years; current voice teacher is Lynn Nagle

Do you make your living as a musician? Yes. I am fortunate to be cast either as a soprano or a mezzo-soprano which provides a lot of opportunity to sing.

If so, where else do you gig/teach/conduct/sing/perform? I am not only a freelance singer, but also a flutist (recordings, solo & ensemble work) so I have gigs all over the place. I have a few private voice students. I also perform with several opera companies including Los Angeles Opera, Opera Pacific, and Long Beach Opera. I have a professional designation as a Teaching Artist, and in 2010, I held artist-in-residence positions at Cal Poly Pomona University, Mira Costa High in Manhattan Beach and El Marino School in Culver City.

Where else do you sing NOW? The Los Angeles Master Chorale Chamber Singers, Soprano soloist at St Edmund’s Episcopal Church in San Marino, the Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers, Guild Opera, Stephen S. Wise Temple; I also do a fair amount of session singing and “ringer” work.

Recent solo roles or guest appearances: Guest soprano soloist with Laguna Beach Chorale Brahms Requiem (2009); guest flutist and soprano soloist featured with Cal Poly Pomona Concert Choir and Chamber Singers concert (2010)

Recordings/TV/Film: X Men 3: The Last Stand; several video games and soundtracks for indie films; A Mighty Voice compact disc as guest artist with Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles

Highlights of your musical career: Gustavo Dudamel’s first performance with the LA Phil; Esa-Pekka Salonen’s final LA Phil performance; 2009 tour of Germany with Jubilee Singers.

Favorite choral work: Verdi Requiem

A defining moment or favorite onstage experience: They’re all my favorites, especially opera performances! Most recent favorite choral experience was 2010 Americana Concert with Grant Gershon & LAMC – wonderful music, emotionally charged

What are you listening to these days?: Renee Fleming, early Leontyne Price, and jazz compilations mixed by my sister who is an awesome DJ

Anything you’d like to add about yourself?: I am a 1st Degree Black Belt in Shotokan Karate. I love to play table tennis and I am a certified hypnotherapist.