Performer and pedagogue LeAnn Overton currently serves on the faculties of the Manhattan School of Music and the John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University. Ms. Overton has also taught on the faculties of Long Island University Post Campus, Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, the New York Actor’s Studio and the Mannes School of Music. As music director/coach Ms. Overton has worked for several summer programs and opera companies including Lingua e Canto, Oberlin in Italy, Midsummermusique Songe D’été, Vocal Arts Festival of Colorado Springs, Music Festival of Lucca, Italy, Cincinnati Opera and Tulsa Opera.

As a strong advocate of educational outreach, Ms. Overton collaborated for over 20 years with Manhattan School of Music’s Community Partnership Program with former Assistant Dean of Opera Studies, Gordon Ostrowski. These early morning forays into the New York public schools included operas written specifically for children as well as shortened versions of the classics. In 2020 Ms. Overton teamed up with the Metropolitan Opera Guild in Partnership with All Stars to create a program featuring singers of color. Ms. Overton has also been a long-time music director with the MSM Pre College division. This training program introduces the talented high school singer to the fundamentals of music, text study and stagecraft.  Opera scenes programs from the standard repertoire are chosen with the young voice in mind.

Ms. Overton has been active with Montclair State University’s opera workshop both as music director and stage director.  In 2009 she designed a semester course for the voice and music education major that introduced the basic skill set needed for today’s singing actor. In her capacity as “Artistic Director” of Oberlin in Italy’s Concert Group, Ms. Overton coached and staged many recital programs exclusively featuring the bel canto repertoire. Ms. Overton was opera workshop co-director alongside Professor Ruth Golden during her tenure at LIU Post Campus.

In 2014 Ms Overton founded Respiro Opera, NYC, an intensive training program focusing on breath/body/text and music. (Please see tab.)

In addition to performing opera, Ms. Overton has enjoyed listening to the world’s best singers via her position as title caller at the Metropolitan Opera, New York City.

In fall of 2014, Ms. Overton was included in an informative interview on the creation of supertitles at Montclair State University which can be viewed below, and the article can be read here.

Ms. Overton earned her Masters of Music degree in “Vocal Coaching/Accompanying” at the University of Illinois under the tutelage of world renowned accompanist John Wustman.

EXPERIENCE – EDUCATIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Manhattan School of Music: Adjunct Faculty – Music Director, Pre College Opera Workshop, Vocal Coach/Accompanist
Montclair State University: Adjunct Professor – Director Opera Workshop Scenes, Vocal Coach/Accompanist
Long Island University Post Campus: Adjunct Faculty – Co-Director Opera Workshop, Vocal Coach/Accompanist
Carnegie Mellon University: Vocal Coach/Accompanist

OPERA COMPANIES

Metropolitan Opera, NYC: Supertitle Caller
Cincinnati Opera: Rehearsal Pianist, Supertitle Caller
Tulsa Opera: Director Young Artist Program, Supertitle Caller
Pittsburgh Opera: Young Artists Program Administrator
Michigan Opera Theater: Coach for Intern Program
Opera Northeast, NYC: Rehearsal Pianist, Supertitle Caller
American Music Festival, Philadelphia: Rehearsal Pianist
Brandenburg Opera, NYC: Music Director, Rehearsal Pianist
Inspiration Point Fine Arts Colony, Eureka Springs, AR: Coach/Rehearsal Pianist

WORKSHOPS AND SUMMER PROGRAMS

Vocal Arts Festival, Colorado Springs (opera and music theater)
Lingua e Canto, Sant’Angelo in Vado
Oberlin in Italy, Arezzo
Midsummermusique Songe D’été, Courcelles Canada 
Opera Theater and Music Festival of Lucca, Italy
Chautauqua Voice School, NY
OperaWorks, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, NYC
Summer Opera at Riverside Church, NYC 
Crittenden Opera Workshop, Washington, DC
Joan Dorneman Classes, NYC
Nico Castel Classes, NYC

COLLABORATIVE PIANIST

In collaboration with Karen Driscoll Adjunct Faculty Montclair State University; “At Breakfast” Karen Driscoll; Soloist “La Voix Humaine”; Primary coach for “The Boheme Project” graduate student role study; “The Things I like Best about New York” Cabaret Sugar Hill Children’s Museum; Harlem Resonanz Festival, NYC; New York Foundation for the Arts, NYC; Don’t Tell Mama Cabaret, NYC; MOSA Recital Series, Our Savior’s Atonement Lutheran Church, NYC; Merkin Recital Hall, NYC; Freeport Library, Long Island, NY; Kosciuszko Foundation, Philadelphia; Teacher’s College Columbia, NYC; NATS New Orleans; St. Bartholomew’s Chapel Recital Series, NYC; Riverside Christ Chapel Chamber Series, NYC; First Annual Black History Month Celebration, Long Island NY; Stoneleigh-Burnham School Homecoming Weekend, CT; Kennesaw State University, Atlanta, GA; The Studio Club and YWCA, NYC

CONDUCTOR

Manhattan School of Music: Pre College Opera Workshop
Montclair State University: Opera Workshop
Midsummermusique Songe D’été, Courcelles Canada: Community Chorus

DIRECTOR

Respiro Opera, NYC
Montclair State University: Director/Music Director Spring Opera Workshop
Oberlin in Italy Concert Group: Director, Artistic Director
Long Island University C.W. Post: Co-Director Opera Workshop

CHORUS

Riverside Church Choir, NYC

TRAINING

Alexander Technique Workshop, Sweet Briar College, WV 2007
Aspen Music Festival; Vocal Coach/Accompanist

EDUCATION

M.M. Vocal Coaching/Accompanying, University of Illinois, Champaign Urbana 
M.M. Piano Performance, University of Colorado at Boulder
B.A. Piano Performance, University of California at Santa Barbara