Leslie Harrington
Singing with Inspiration Expert
|
|
About
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
theatre, 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 Theatre 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 musical’s 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 primetime 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
videoconference sessions to all those who wish to learn the thrill of
singing with ease.
|
Leslie Harrington Quick Facts
Main Areas: Singing and Performing
Career Focus: Singing Performing Artist, Voice Teacher
Affiliation: www.singingworld.com
Favorite Quotes & Thoughts from Leslie Harrington
Of the three fundamental reflexes of the human survival instinct: Circulation,
Appetite, and Breathing, only the Breath is Inspiring.
Inspiration is the first action of self awareness, the first conscious
act a body does when it is born. Circulation and Appetite begin in the
womb. Only Breathing begins at birth.
Inspiration is by nature spiritual and thus eternal in character,
while appetite is enslaved to time and the vagaries of base passions. The
reflex of Appetite is the cause and source of selfishness and greed, while the
source of Breathing, the air, must be shared with all. The act of
Inspiration is the spark of life with which we live.
The economy of the world is based on principle of consumption or appetite
and requires destruction. To survive humanity must develop or mature or
evolve to the higher principles of inspiration in creation in order to control
the baser issues of appetite.
Worshipping Inspiration in every breath taken is the most accessible
path for any seeker to enlightenment, and by instinct is available to all
living beings.
Intonation on inspiration applied with inflection of intention
is the magical exercise of incantation or singing in common terms.
Singing is the perfect tool for mastering emotions, as well. The
therapeutic benefits of being in control of traumatic emotional memories
employed to create beautiful singing are well documented. Singing is the
first language of humanity and the most effective means of bringing a crowd
into accord.
It is time for humanity to be in accord, what better way than by
working in concert and harmony singing together?
Getting Started With Leslie Harrington
Please visit www.SingingWorld.com to begin the
joy of singing, or if you already sing, learn how to use inspiration to
approach the eternal magical capability of your voice.
To get started you will need:
·
a microphone
·
a webcam (most come with a microphone)
·
speakers or headphones
·
good lighting
·
a high bandwidth internet connection like DSL or
cable
On the website there is a link to the video
conferencing application, www.Skype.com which
is a free download. SKYPE.com can be used for live video conferencing,
text chatting, and file sharing.
To assist in learning the reflexive inspirational nature of the tonal scale
you may order a “Keyboard of the Voice T-Shirt”. The “Keyboard of the
Voice T-Shirt” comes in various sizes and colors.
Contacting Leslie Harrington
Leslie may be contacted through www.singingworld.com.
His e-mail is leslie@singingworld.com.
You may also visit his studio when you come to Taos, New Mexico, a community of inspiring beauty in landscape and fine art, as well as camping and athletics.
Recommended Experts and Friends
|
|
