Jelle Leistra (Tenor)

Born: Delft, the Netherlands

Tenor

The Dutch tenor and choral conductor, Jelle Leistra, studied at Wartburg College locatie Revius in Rotterdam (1995-1999). He studied Classical Singing at the Rotterdams Conservatorium with Frans Huijts and Roberta Alexander. After graduating in 2008, he continued his studies with Frans Fiselier. He is currently being coached by Frans Huijts. He attended master-classes with Evelyn Tubb, Carolyn Watkinson, Roberta Alexander and Frans Huijts.

Jelle Leistra sang as a tenor soloist in the Matthäus-Passion (BWV 244) and Johannes-Passion (BWV 245), Mass in B minor (BWV 232) and Weihnachts-Oratorium (BWV 248) by J.S. Bach, Messiah by George Frideric Handel, Markus-Passion by Reinhard Keiser, De Schöpfung by Haydn, Requiem by W.A. Mozart, De Crucifixion by Stainer, Petite Messe Solennelle by Rossini, Oratorio de Noël by Camille Saint-Saëns, Vespro della Beata Vergine by Monteverdi and various J.S. Bach cantatas.

Jelle Leistra is, besides his solo career, a much-needed choir singer. He regularly lends his support to professional choirs such as Cappella Amsterdam (Director: Daniel Reuss; since April 2014), Studium Chorale and the Groot Omroepkoor (Current Director: Klaas Stok; since February 2013).

Choral Conductor

Jelle Leistra started conducting during his studies of Classical Singing at the Rotterdams Conservatorium. He gained experience with several church choirs, and received lessons from Wiecher Mandemaker and Joop Schets. He is currently studying choir and orchestral conducting at Lucas Vis.

Jelle Leistra is the conductor of the Kamerkoor Decibelle from Utrecht, (since October 2013) the Zevenbergs Vocaal Ensemble ()since September 2015) and choir Straat en Dijk from Amsterdam. With these choirs he performed various programs, both a-cappella as well as with accompaniment of organ, piano or orchestra. Larger works that were performed are Gloria by Antonio Vivaldi, Dido & Aeneas by Purcell, Requiem by Gabriel Fauré, Orfeo ed Euridice by Gluck, Via Crucis by Franz Liszt and Ein Deutsches Requiem by Johannes Brahms. In addition there were memorable performances of the Funeral Sentences by Purcell, music from the Baltic states by Arvo Pärt, Knut Nystedt, Rautavaara, Vasks and Plakidis, music from England by Benjamin Britten, Herbert Howells, Ralph Vaughan Williams and John Tavener, and work by the Dutch composer Hans Leenders. In the past he was the conductor for the Vocaal ensemble Animato from Capelle a/d IJssel, Projectkoor Intermezzo from Nieuwerkerk a/d IJssel, Kamerkoor Zeewolde and Operakoor Maasstad.

In addition to his permanent appointments, Jelle Leistra is also regularly invited to lead projects. He works regularly with the Nederlands Blazers Ensemble, for which he directed a male choir during the Wagner New Year's Concert of 2013, and a multicultural choir for the final of Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 8 during the New Year's Concert 2015. He also conducted several scratch performances, under others with Ein Deutsches Requiem by J. Brahms. He currently lives in Almere-Stad, Flevoland, the Netherlands.

Sources:
Jelle Leistra Website, English translation by Aryeh Oron (July 2018)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (July 2018)

Recordings of Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works

Conductor

As

Works

Arjan van Baest

Tenor

[V18-3] (2018, Video): BWV 244

Links to other Sites

Jelle Leistra - Tenor en dirigent (Official Website) [Dutch]
Jelle Leistra on Facebook