Lesley Leighton, artistic director of the Los Robles Master Chorale and director of choral activities at Cal State San Bernardino, has been named principal guest conductor of the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra.
Anthony Parnther, the orchestra’s music director and conductor, said in a news release: « Maestra Leighton will serve as a cover, share concerts with me and begin to conduct on her own SBSO series as we branch out into the Inland Empire even further. »
Leighton was named assistant conductor of the Los Angeles Master Chorale in 2010 and a year later was promoted to associate conductor, a position she held until 2016. She has also performed as a soprano, with opera credits include principal appearances with New York City Opera, Los Angeles Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, Köln Opera, Paris Opera and Glyndebourne.
A native of Los Angeles, Leighton studied conducting at Loyola Marymount University, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in conducting. Following graduate conducting study at UCLA, she received a Master of Music degree in vocal performance and a doctorate in choral music, both from the University of Southern California.
