LeAnn Overton

Performer and pedagogue LeAnn Overton is currently on the faculties of the Manhattan School of Music and the John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University. Ms. Overton has also taught on the faculties of C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University, Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh and the Chautauqua Voice School. As music director/coach, Ms. Overton has worked for several opera companies and summer festivals including Lingua e Canto in Italy, Midsummer Music Dream in Canada, Oberlin in Italy, Vocal Arts Festival of Colorado Springs, Cincinnati Opera, and Tulsa Opera.

Ms. Overton is music director for MSM’s Educational Outreach program which brings the classic opera repertoire to the NYC school children. She has also served as music director for MSM’s Precollege Opera Ensemble where she has worked with Professor Emeritus Director Gordon Ostrowski and MSM alum David Gordon. This introduction to the operatic repertoire teaches the basic skill set and stagecraft required for today’s opera singer.

As stage director for undergraduate opera workshop at Montclair State University, Ms. Overton created “I Speak Gelato …Scenes from the Italian Repertoire,” “From Stories We Love…” “Behind the Scenes Opera Scenes,” “Upbeat to the Downbeat,” and “Brush up your Shakespeare.”

In 2014 Ms. Overton founded “Respiro Opera, NYC” a program designed for the emerging artist to gain more stage experience in a safe environment. This advanced training program focuses on breath/body alignment (yoga for singers, Alexander Technique, Body Mapping), text and musical style. (RespiroOperaNYC.org) Ms. Overton was vocal coach for ATsinging, a new program that immerses the singer in Alexander Technique at the Balanced Arts Center in NYC.

Ms. Overton has collaborated with colleague soprano Karen Driscoll on two one acts “Before Breakfast” and “La voix humaine.” During her tenure at LIU, Ms. Overton frequently collaborated with soprano Lisa Radakovich Holsberg. The two recorded the CD Race for the Sky featuring the poetry found in the makeshift memorials after the disastrous events of 9/11/1001 with music by Richard Pearson Thomas (see www.raceforthesky.org). In the summer of 2019 she collaborated with cellist Maureen Hynes and mezzo soprano Barbara Fusco-Spera on the benefit recital series towards the restoration of Béla Bartók’s home in Saranac Lake.

Ms. Overton has worked for the Metropolitan Opera as title caller since 2000.