UPCOMING AND NEW
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Opera Contempo and THIS IS JANE are the winners of “Outstanding Ensemble Show” from the Great Salt Lake Fringe Festival 2026! If you’re interested in supporting Opera Contempo in putting on a full production, visit https://www.operacontempo.com/contact. (Video from the Fringe coming soon!) Hear Aoife Shanley singing the role of Cici at the Fringe here.
New Wave Opera will perform scenes (different from those performed by Opera Contempo!) from THIS IS JANE in February-March 2027. NWO is fundraising for these performances, and if you’d like to help, contact them here.
Listen to my new collaboration with composer Clifford W. King, “Winter Goddess, Give Me Your Hands”
CanvasRebel interviewed me, and while apparently my name confuses them, it’s a nice interview. (My full professional name is Kendra (first) Preston (middle) Leonard (last); alphabetize by Leonard, and my title is Dr., not Ms.)
You can now watch New Wave Opera’s 2025 production of MARIE CURIE LEARNS TO SWIM on YouTube! (includes ASL interpretation)
The amazing writer and advocate Finnian Burnett asked me Five Questions about being an activist artist, libretto-writing, and much more. Read it all here!
Composer Jessica Rudman and I are giving away the sheet music for “Where It’s Safe,” our piece about the importance of abortion access. Originally commissioned by Elizabeth Rudolph, it tells the stories of three people seeking an abortion. Each is at a different place in life—and each has different reasons for ending their pregnancy. Despite their differences, though, theyare united by the need to leave their homes and travel to a place where they can get the medical care they need. Jessica and I wrote this right after Roe v. Wade was overturned and many people lost access to abortion care—something the United Nations recognizes as a human right. Download it for free here.
