Boston Singers' Resource News Bulletin, April 23, 2002

It is our great pleasure to highlight Ms. Leslie Holmes, NE NATS Governor, singer, lecturer, teacher in this issue. Not only does Ms. Holmes have much to offer us in the way of her talents, but she has also been a wonderful, supportive friend to BSR.

LESLIE HOLMES AND BSR: You have such a wonderful, postitive outlook on life and singing. I can understand why you are a leader in many teaching, singing, and music administration fields. Any advice for the rest of us onhow to maintain this healthy attitude when the "chips are down?"

Leslie: Thank you. None of us is ever sure we always have a positive attitude! One thing that helps me a lot is trying to live each moment as if it were my only moment. This helps us not worry about the future. I also think that we need to keep discovering ourselves and our voices forever, so mustn't limit ourselves to the "when I have my technique down" philosophy. Delving into the poem also helps and gives us a real release for our many emotions. It also helps to have wonderful,, supporting family and to get more of the same from a partner. Oh...and keep a sense of humor!

BSR: If you could only give one piece of singing advice to every singer in New England, what would it be?

Leslie: Sing whenever and wherever you get the opportunity!

Leslie Holmes, soprano/pianist, is a graduate of Wellesley College, well known in the area for her numerous solo appearances, as well as for her radio program of eleven years on Classical Radio Boston, WCRB, 102.5 FM. A regional finalist in the Met Auditions, she has been soloist with the Boston Symphony, the Boston Pops. The Wellesley Symphony, the Opera Company of Boston, the Chorus Pro Musica, the M.I.T. Choral Society, the Wellesley Choral Society, the Wellesley College Choir, at Castle Hill and at Hammond Castle. Ms. Holmes has presented solo recitals at the Gardner Museum, Great Woods, the Boston Public Library, the French Library, the Longy School of Music, the Boston Conservatory, Wellesley College, The Boston Public Library, The Newton Free Library, the Blacksmith House in Cambridge, Northeastern University and throughout the East, Europe and in Cuba. Leslie Holmes has been heard on National Public Radio on A NOTE TO YOU with Roland Nadeau, and MUSIC AMERICA with Ron Della Chiesa.

Ms. Holmes is a strong proponent of the French Art Song, as well as French poetry. Her recitals at the French Library, Wellesley College, Northeastern University, and for numerous organizations, have included entire programs devoted to Gabriel Fauré, Claude Debussy, Francis Poulenc, and the poetry of Paul Verlaine as set by various composers. She has presented her ever-popular CABARET FRANCAIS on the Court Street Chamber Music Series in Hingham, at the Harvard Club, at the French House at Wellesley College, at the French Library, at Bard College, at Brandeis University and at the Providence Athenaeum, to name a few. She has also performed a program of songs about Paris, composed by American composers, for the Northeast Popular Culture/American Culture Association at their Annual Conference. She and pianist William Merrill are planning a CD of French cabaret for Northeastern University.

A champion of women's music, Ms. Holmes has presented many recitals of music by women composers, throughout New England, in Europe and in Alaska. She has sung programs, presented lectures, written CD notes and participated in conferences devoted to the music of Amy Cheney Beach. She has also given many lecture/recitals of other women composers, contemporary and historical. Holmes also performs the so-called classical popular composers (i.e. Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, Stephen Sondheim and others.) Leslie Holmes has given a lecture/recital, THE HISTORY OF CABARET, on a national workshop given by the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS). She has presented hour-long shows on WMBR in Cambridge on THE ORIGINS OF CABARET, KURT WEILL: FROM BERLIN TO BROADWAY, and LOTTA LENYA; A CENTENNIAL TRIBUTE. She has also given lecture/recitals on THE ORIGINS OF FRENCH CABARET at the French Library and for Albany public radio.

During the month of May, Leslie Holmes will be presenting her popular program, LES CHANSONS DE PARIS, in three different venues. On the 10th, she will sing this recital in Winchester, at a gala celebrating this town's French sister-city, Saint-Germaine-en-Laye. The 20th will find her singing about Paris for the Newton-Wellesley Hospital Auxiliary. The public is invited to hear her on Wednesday, May 22nd, when she will be the featured performer at The Center for Arts in Natick (TCAN) at 31 Main Street, singing for about half an hour. Michael Larson will be at the piano. The occasion is the twice-a-month open mike held at TCAN, so bring your own music and step up to the mike! For information, 508-647-0097, www.natickarts.org.

Leslie is also active as a teacher and writer. As Regional Governor NATS, she maintains a private studio and teaches group voice at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education. She has given many Masterclasses, most recently for the Western Massachusetts Chapter of NATS. She writes a regular column called THE VOCAL POINT for the magazine on women in music, called Signature, and for the NATS Journal of Singing. Leslie has also lectured on career choices and making a career in the arts for the Business Women s Network and at the Harvard Divinity School, Wellesley College, and Regis College. She has given many pre-concert lectures for musical organizations, including the Boston Chorus Pro Musica, the Stow Chorus and the Wellesley Symphony Orchestra, and has provided narration for the Treble Chorus of New England, the Chorus Pro Musica and the Wellesley Symphony. She currently serves as President of the Wellesley Symphony Orchestra.

The first weekend in May, Leslie will be presenting on a conference, sponsored by the New England Region of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), to be held at the University of Vermont in Burlington. The public is invited to participate. The Conference will be on SINGING THE INNER VOICE, and will feature Barry Green, co-author of The Inner Game of Singing, noted choral conductor, Nick Page, Martha Peabody (Chanting and Toning for Health), Timothy Morningstar (Calming your Nerves), Jana Pivacek (Finding the Voice Within), and Carolyn Kingston (Yoga for Singers). Holmes will be leading a 30-minuteGuided Meditation. The conference will be held on Saturday and Sunday, May 4 and 5. For information, contact Martha Peabody (mjsoundoasis@aol.com), Susan Larson (divalarson@mindspring.com), or Leslie Holmes lholmessop@aol.com