Opera San José - Duana Demus

Duana Demus-Leslie,
Soprano

Duana Demus-Leslie makes her company debut during the 2008 - 2009 season, appearing as Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte. Ms. Demus-Leslie has performed extensively within the Bay Area, appearing as Giorgetta (Il Tabarro) with Berkeley Opera, Amelia (Un Ballo in Maschera) with San Francisco Lyric Opera and Serena (Porgy and Bess) in a debut with Oakland East Bay Symphony. Other recent engagements include the title role in Tosca with San Francisco Lyric Opera and Louise in Oakland Opera Theater's production of X. Ms. Demus has also performed the title roles in Aida, Susannah, and Suor Angelica, Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, as well as other leading opera, operetta and musical theater roles. She has appeared with Los Angeles Opera, Opera Fresca, Townsend Opera Players, and Stockton Opera.

Recent concert appearances featured Ms. Demus-Leslie as a soloist in Verdi's Requiem, Bach's St. John Passion, Honegger's King David, Mozart's Reqieum, and the world premiere of Psalm 27 composed by Stephen Rothstein with such groups as the Los Angeles Baroque Orchestra, Stockton Symphony, Diablo Symphony, and the Stanislaus Symphony. She was a featured soloist on the television series Hour of Power with the Crystal Cathedral Orchestra.

Awards received include grand prize at the West Bay Opera Superstar competition, National Winner of the Saritelli-DiPanni Bel Canto Scholarship, the Dean Lescher Scholarship and the Fé Bland Foundation Scholarship. She was named a semi-finalist in the Loren Zachary Competition and received first place in the National Association Teachers of Singing Competition.

Ms. Davis-Leslie received her Doctorate and Master of Music degrees from UCLA, and also holds degrees from California State University Stanislaus and Los Medanos College.

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