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The American baritone, Brian Leeper, obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from Luther College (1978-1982), his Master of Music degree in Voice Performance from University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and worked . He has done further graduate study in music at the Florida State University (1988-1992) and The Julliard School and the Blossom Festival School.
An active soloist and clinician, Brian Leeper has presented numerous masterclasses and recitals across the USA. Having performed over twenty major roles with opera companies in the US and abroad, including a national radio broadcast performance of Candide with the Cleveland Orchestra, he has also appeared as soloist in Oratorio with conductors Robert Shaw, Leon Botstein. Performances in Spring 2011 included the role of Elijah in Felix Mendelssohn’s Elijah with the Twin Lakes Choral Society, Bass Soloist in Haydn’s Creation with the Wisconsin Chamber Choir and the title role in Donizetti‘s Don Pasquale with Candid Concert Opera.
Brian Leeper served as Instructor of Voice at Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, Nebraska (August 1985- May 1987); Apprentice Artist at Southern Opera Theatre (1987-1988); Assistant Professor of Music at Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois (August 1992-May 1996); Director of Music Ministries at Hilltop Presbyterian Church in Mendham, New Jersey (January 1997-October 2000); Instructor of Voice at Anderson University in Anderson, Indiana August 2000-May 2004); First Baptist Church of Indianapolis, Indiana (November 2000-July 2004); Voice Instructor at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana (August 2001-August 2004).
Brian Leeper was on the voice faculty of La Musica Lirica, a five-week summer opera program in Novafeltria, Italy (June 2005-July 2010), and prior to that was on the voice faculty of Operafestival di Roma. Since August 2004, he is the Vocal Area Coordinator at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where he has taught Studio Voice, Vocal Pedagogy and Opera Workshop. In May 2011, he received Instructional Excellence Award for Academic Staff from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
Brian Leeper has been on the Wisconsin Chapter NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) Executive Board for the past five years and currently serves as Vice-President of the organization. Former voice students have won awards and competitions including district Metropolitan Opera Auditions, NATS Student Auditions and are currently singing in opera houses in the USA and Europe. |
