H. Leslie Adams, composer of opera, Blake, has worked in all media, including symphony, ballet, chamber, choral, instrumental, vocal solo and keyboard. Adams' works have been performed by the Prague Radio Symphony, Iceland Symphony, Buffalo Philahrmonic, Indianapolis Symphony and New York City Opera Orchestra & Soloists. He has been commissioned and performed by The Cleveland Orchestra, Ohio Chamber Symphony and Cleveland Chamber Symphony, among others. Metropolitan Opera artists have performed his vocal works internationally.
Mr. Adams holds degrees from Oberlin Conservatory, Long Beach State University and Ohio State University. He is listed in Who's Who in America, Groves Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 2nd ed., and Who's Who in Music and Musicians.
You can find more information about the composer here.
Annual Updates
2012
PERFORMANCES
New Instrumental Works: Poem of Love for Bassoon and Piano, Romance in D-Flat for English Horn and Piano, from Trio for Clarinet, Violin, and Piano, and L’Extase d’Amour for viola and piano. (Narrated by composer) Cleveland Public Library Main, OH, Feb. 2011. The Music of H. Leslie Adams: The composer shares his life and works, Audio representations include works for solo voice, choral, chamber and orchestral. Kulas Hall, Oberlin College Conservatory, Oberlin, OH, May 2011. Offering of Love and Prelude and Fugue, Linda Gardner, organist, Grace Presbyterian Church, Lakewood, OH, Oct. 2011. Hymn to Freedom for soprano, tenor, baritone, chamber orchestra; African American Art Song Alliance Festival; University of California, Irvine, Feb. 2012.
2011
H. Leslie Adams participated in a live composer interview on the Weekend Morning Show on WKYC-TV Channel 3 with Kim Wheeler, host. The program was telecast throughout Greater Cleveland, OH on 02/20/10.
PERFORMANCES
Hymn to All Nations was introduced by the Nathaniel Dett Choir of the Cleveland School of the Arts, with William Woods conducting in Cleveland, OH on 02/07/10. Ecstasy of Love was performed by Eliesha Nelson, violist, and Dianna White-Gould, pianist at the Seifullah Art Gallery in East Cleveland, OH on 02/15/10 and on the NANM Regional Concert at the Antioch Baptist Church in Cleveland, OH on 04/16/10. Creole Girl, Prayer, Since You Went Away, For You There Is No Song, and Amazing Grace were performed by Darryl Taylor, countertenor at Gerald Daniel Recital Hall at California State University Long Beach on 2/15/10.
PUBLICATIONS
Etude in C# Minor. In: Piano Music of Africa and the Africa Diaspora. Vol. 5. Oxford University Press. Offertory. In: King of Kings: Organ Music of Black Composers: Past and Present, Vol. I. GAI Publications.
2009
Adams spent a week in April 2008 as Composer-in-Residence at Millersville University, Lancaster, PA, during which time two concerts were given of his works. At the first concert, “Art Songs and Piano Music of H. Leslie Adams,” both faculty and student performers sang a variety of Adams’ art songs. Pianist Maria Corley served as accompanist, and also performed Etude in E Flat Minor as a solo, while guest artist countertenor Darryl Taylor journeyed from California to appear at the event. On April 10 a second concert, “Adams’ Music for Ensembles,” featured works for violin, horn, cello, piano, and chorus.
PERFORMANCES
Opera North, Inc., presented an evening of highlights from the opera Blake, directed and conducted by Kay George Roberts, on April 12, 2008, at the Trinity Center for Urban Life, Philadelphia, PA.
PUBLICATIONS
“Offertory for Solo Organ” is included in the new book, King of Kings: Organ Music of Black Composers, Past and Present, Vol. I, compiled by James Abbington; GIA Publications.