MMUS (Performance & Literature), HBA Music (Performance Voice), Diploma in Opera, Second Study – Fine Art
Lesley Andrew has made soloist appearances with many of Canada’s finest orchestras and choirs, including the Vancouver, Windsor, Kitchener-Waterloo, Kingston, Hamilton, Guelph symphony orchestras, Weston Silver Band, Toronto Concert Band, Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Orchestra, Brott Summer Music Festival, Stratford Summer Music, and the Shenandoah Bach Festival (VA, USA). Ms. Andrew’s recordings have often been heard on CBC Radio. Known for her extraordinary vocal range and versatility in many genres of music, Ms. Andrew often ‘switches hats’, performing as the soprano soloist for one engagement and as the alto soloist for the next – from opera to show tunes, oratorio to jazz.
Immediately following the completion of her undergraduate degree, Ms. Andrew began an extended tenure with the Stratford Festival, performing in productions including The Mikado, The Pirates of Penzance, Twelfth Night, Cyrano De Bergerac, Alice Through the Looking Glass, The Music Man and Patience. Other theatrical performances include Menotti’s ‘The Telephone’ and Hopkin’s ‘Three’s Company’ at the Guelph Spring Festival (featuring and directed by Ms. Andrew.)
Ms. Andrew has completed a number of major concert and recital tours, including Argentina (2005) England/Austria/Germany (1989/1990 – Canadian Concert & Jazz Band), the 1999 World Tour aboard the QE II, two USA tours (2002/2003-California/Arizona/Florida/Texas) and a Canadian tour with The Lesley Andrew Trio (2004-Vancouver/Manitoba/Ontario).
A recipient of many awards, including a Canadian Opera Company Scholarship, and the Maureen Forrester Guthrie Award (The Stratford Festival), Ms. Andrew now adjudicates and conducts masterclasses at festivals, universities and schools of music & drama around the world (voice – classical, Broadway and pop, choral music and speech arts classes.) Having moved from Stratford, Ontario (where she was twice nominated as ‘Citizen of the Year), Ms. Andrew now runs her thriving voice and drama studio – Dream in Progress Productions – in both London (where she now resides) and at the University of Windsor, where she currently teaches. As a director, Ms. Andrew is much in demand in the genres of musical theatre and opera. Ms. Andrew’s intensive theatre and music program for youth, ‘Summer Glee’, is now in it’s twenty-fifth year, with more programs offered each summer in communities across Ontario, in order to accommodate growing enrollment.
Ms. Andrew has made special guest television appearances on The Tonight Show, Oprah Winfrey, To Tell the Truth, Donny & Marie, The Comedy Network, YTV, Regis & Kathy Lee and many more. A popular motivational speaker, Ms. Andrew is engaged across Canada by Educators, Universities, Corporations, Service Clubs and Student Organizations.
Ms. Andrew’s professional activities have included teaching and stage directing appointments at Wilfrid Laurier University (Opera), at the Universities of Windsor (Vocal Pedagogy, Studio Voice; Faculty of Music, and The Creative Process; School of Dramatic Arts) and Western Ontario (Studio Voice, Opera – director, Shakespearean drama). As a pedagogue, Ms. Andrew is very involved with the W Ross Macdonald School for the Blind in Brantford, Ontario, where she helps create and run arts programs for exceptional children. While maintaining a full teaching schedule in her private studio (London) Ms. Andrew continues to take bookings as a soloist, collaborative recital artist, stage director, adjudicator, and motivational speaker.
Discography
*‘Love … Look Away’ The Lesley Andrew Trio – A stylistic mixture of opera, jazz and musical theatre.
*‘Dream A Little Dream’ – A collection of lullabies ranging in style from classical to jazz, contemporary to traditional.
*‘Celebrating Rogers – Hammerstein & Hart’ with Lesley Andrew and Daniel Lichti – The music of Richard Rogers.