Artists
Artists
Leah Dexter
Leah Dexter has been praised as a performer of “commanding force, both vocally and dramatically” (Chicago Classical Review) and for her “opulent tone and characterization to match” (Opera News). A performing artist known for her diverse operatic roles, she has been seen as Carmen, Mrs. Herring in Albert Herring, Siegrune in Die Walkure, Annina in La Traviata, Mistress Paddington in Quamino’s Map, Bertha in Fire Shut Up in My Bones, Annie in Porgy & Bess, Gloria in Freedom Ride, Nelda in Taking Up Serpents, Suzy/Lolette in La Rondine, Dimas’ Mother/Lupe in Frida, and Ib in Becoming Santa Claus, among other roles, and with companies including Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago Opera Theater, Detroit Opera, and Sarasota Opera.
Ms. Dexter has been alto soloist in works ranging from Baroque to contemporary, including Handel’s Messiah, King David, Let My People Go, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Mozart’s Requiem, Hope: An Oratorio, Jenkins’ Stabat Mater and The Armed Man, Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, Elijah, Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle, The Ordering of Moses, A Child of Our Time, and Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, with organizations including the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, Detroit Symphony, University of Michigan Choral Union, Rockefeller Memorial Chapel, Apollo Chorus of Chicago, Chicago Sinfonietta, Cincinnati Pops, Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Elgin Master Chorale, Northwestern University Symphony, Champaign-Urbana Symphony, and Concordia University, among others.
In addition to her operatic and oratorio work, Leah is also a prolific recitalist and has presented programs with Oakland University, Stanford University, University of Michigan, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, PianoForte Chicago, LYNX Project, and Glessner House of Chicago. Ms. Dexter received her Bachelor and Master degrees in music performance from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.
Photo credit: Michelle Lee
