God Speaks to Me Through Thee

Leslie Harrington

Early Musical Experience

Leslie Harrington’s early years were on a ranch in western Oklahoma. His first musical experience was in a talent contest in 1951. Leslie and his brother won the contest and he made his first income from singing. Private study of music and performance in voice began with Mary Pedigo in Elk City, Oklahoma in 1959. In junior-high and high school Leslie was in all the choirs and musical productions and contests, receiving many commendations and awards for his singing in secondary school.

Oklahoma State University awarded Mr. Harrington a full music scholarship grant for vocal performance. At Oklahoma State University he began the study of vocal pedagogy with Sunny Van Eton along with choral conducting, elementary and secondary music education, as well as stage and concert performance.

Performance Training

At American Conservatory Of Music in Chicago Mr. Harrington studied Bel Canto technique with Eileen Deneen and coached art song repertoire and opera styles with John Browning, renowned concert pianist and vocal coach.

In Los Angeles, California he studied vocal technique privately with Elisabeth Parham, Professor of Vocal Music at California State University, Northridge. There he coached with David Scott, Dean of Music at Cal-State - Northridge, and appeared in several of their productions. He also coached and performed with Henrietta Pelta, founding director emeritus of Euterpe Opera of Los Angeles. Mr. Harrington prepared several roles with well-known vocal coach Jack Metz, Marilyn Horn’s favorite repertory coach in California.

Mr. Harrington has also been in many workshops and master classes in acting and performance with other prominent performing artists including Lee Strasberg (eminent actor and founder of the Actors’ Studio), Beverly Sills (distinguished operatic soprano, General Director of New York City Opera), Tito Capobianco (famed operatic stage director, General Director of various major opera companies), Licia Albanese (soprano, celebrated opera star), and Luciano Pavarotti (illustrious tenor, opera and concert star).

In New York City he studied vocal technique many years with John Bullock and Franco Iglesias (teacher of Placido Domingo, famous opera tenor).

Performance Career

Mr. Harrington’s performance career has taken him from the gospel music platform to the concert and operatic stage around the country and internationally. He commenced his concert career almost as soon as he began vocal studies. Mr. Harrington has appeared as principle artist in concert nationally and internationally. Leslie has credits in musical theater, film and television, as well as audio recording and commercial advertising.

Stage Performance

His operatic career got underway, semi-professionally, in Chicago with several community groups leading to a summer workshop with Isaac Van Grove at Inspiration Point Music Festival in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. He continued professionally in apprenticeship with Santa Fe Opera and Western Opera Theater in San Francisco and San Diego Opera Workshop. Leslie also toured professionally in the western United States with the William Hall Chorale of Los Angeles as principle soloist. In New York City he performed as principle artist with many regional opera companies, with various NYC community theater, opera, and musical workshops, and international productions. He was invited to join the Broadway cast of “EVITA” in 1980. While in “EVITA,” Mr. Harrington began performing in broadcast commercial advertisements.

Recording Performance

In 1981 he recorded the American Musical Theater Commemorative Edition of “NAUGHTY MARIETTA” honoring Victor Herbert for the Smithsonian Institution of Washington, D.C. Following the gala performances and recording for the Smithsonian Institution he joined the Broadway National Tour of “OKLAHOMA!” from the first Broadway revival. Upon returning to NYC after the “OKLAHOMA!” Broadway National Tour he continued working in film, television, musical theater, concert, opera, and television and radio advertisement. Mr. Harrington received critical acclaim by Stereo Review (Feb. 1982) and other publications for the recording of “NAUGHTY MARIETTA.” He has similarly been acclaimed for his concert and operatic performance by news and current affairs periodicals including THE NEW YORK TIME, NEW YORK MAGAZINE, THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE, THE LOS ANGELES TRIBUNE, and many other publications around the United States and internationally. His singing has also contributed to two national Obie Award winning prime time television commercials: “Diet Pepsi – Uh Huh!” with Ray Charles (1991), and New Coke “Desert Island” (1985).

Teaching Career

Performing has been most rewarding to Mr. Harrington and he enjoys sharing his experience and education. At every occasion whether simple or grand, in ensemble, as soloist, principle artist, or teacher he shares the gift of singing with as much fervor as when he first began. Because of his expertise in vocal pedagogy and performance experience his co-performers frequently turn to him when they have vocal problems. Mr. Harrington has been on the faculty of the University of New Mexico - Taos as adjunct instructor. He has also taught applied music courses in voice at Adams State College, Alamosa, CO and at the College of Santa Fe, NM. Mr. Harrington teaches privately in Taos, N.M. and has developed this website to instruct vocal technique in live video-conference sessions to all those who wish to learn the thrill of singing with ease.