As a recent graduate of the renowned vocal program at the University of North Texas, Soprano Leslie Marks is garnering attention in the northwest as an opera and concert soloist. During the 2011/2012 season, Ms. Marks will make her debut at Tacoma Opera as Mimi in La Bohéme. She has also performed in the northwest with Watershed Opera, Puget Sound Concert Opera and Pacific Lutheran Opera. Around the country Ms. Marks has sung with New York Opera Studio, where she worked with the legendary Nico Castel, UNT Opera Theatre, Oberlin in Italy and The Crittenden Opera Workshop. Ms. Marks was a featured guest of the Aiken Opera Society and Seattle Opera Guild. With a silvery lush voice and an effortless top, critic David Bentlely, described Ms. Marks as having “a radiant charm, fine breath control, and an easy grace on stage.” Her credits include Mimi in La Bohéme, Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Papagena in Die Zauberflöte, Angelica in Suor Angelica, Ora Prima in L’Egisto, Guenevere in Camelot, Countess (cover) in Le nozze di Figaro.
She has done extensive scene work in such roles as Frau Fluth (Die Lustigen Weiber von Windsor), Juliette (Romeo et Juliette), Violetta (La Traviata), Donna Anna (Don Giovanni), Elisibetta (Il Matrimonio Segreto), and Laetetia (The Old Maid and the Thief). In 2010 and 2009 Ms. Marks won prizes in the Texas Young Artist Competition (2nd and 3rd Place). As well as singing opera Ms. Marks is a talented crossover artist in Musical Theater. In 2010 she was a finalist for the Neil Berg Singing with the Broadway Stars Competition, and was considered for the role of Carlotta in The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway. Currently, she studies with acclaimed soprano Janeanne Houston.