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Official Bios

  • Cara Lianne McLeod is making waves in Canadian music with emotionally rich projects. Her new single “The Dream,” inspired by a dream of her late father, drops June 13, 2025. Soon after comes “Do You Really See Me,” produced by and co-written with five-time Juno winner, Michael Hanson. McLeod is one third of the trio McLeod, Bowman & Bray, which debuted at the Yardbird Suite, with a setlist of jazz, blues & vintage pop, that garnered rave reviews and an invitation to perform in next season’s lineup. She hosts In & Out of Love on Big E Radio, blending music and storytelling all about love, and is developing a tour of the same name. From country & choir singing in her youthful days, McLeod’s heartfelt artistry remains at her core.

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  • Cara Lianne McLeod is making waves in the Canadian music scene with a series of emotionally resonant releases. Her upcoming single “The Dream,” is a deeply personal reflection on a dream about her late father, slated for release on June 13, 2025, just in time for Father’s Day. Following closely behind is “Do You Really See Me,” a collaboration with five-time Juno Award winner and Glass Tiger co-founder Michael Hanson, who also produced the track. With Hanson’s renowned expertise, the single promises a powerful blend of pop and introspective lyricism.

    Beyond her recent musical ventures, McLeod is a multi-faceted artist with a strong presence in both performance and production. Her collaborative spirit extends to McLeod, Bowman & Bray, a trio she co-founded, which made its debut at the infamous Yardbird Suite in January 2025 and will appear in next season’s lineup. As the founder of CLM Productions, she co-produced a 2023 concert performance of Donizetti’s Roberto Devereux and is currently working on future concerts including a diverse program of music and artists.

    In addition to her musical projects, McLeod is the host of the newly launched radio show In & Out of Love on Big E Radio, where she explores love, loss, and the human experience through a blend of music and storytelling. She is also preparing a new touring show of the same name, which will feature a unique mix of classical, jazz, and pop music, paired with personal anecdotes from her own life.

    With an impressive range of projects and a deeply personal approach to her artistry, Cara Lianne McLeod is carving out a distinctive niche in the Canadian music landscape.

    Click here to download bios.

  • Canadian artist Cara Lianne McLeod has been described as a vibrant and generous singer, who makes her audiences feel with her clear and captivating sound, whether she’s performing at a jazz club, on a recital stage, or recording one of her own tunes.  In addition to spending time in recording studios in Edmonton and Toronto on new releases, Cara Lianne McLeod is creating a show entitled “In & Out of Love”, seamlessly creating a through line of love stories across multiple genres with new arrangements. Her successful debut performance with her newly formed trio, McLeod, Bowman & Bray, performing a set list of jazz, blues and vintage pop music, at the illustrious Yardbird Suite, left a lasting impression on the nearly sold-out audience, and led to an invitation to perform in a future season. Her discography to date includes a sultry jazz song called “Serendipity”, a few soft ballads, and a cover of Rihanna’s “Stay,” with many more to come. Her writing and choice of genre and instrumentation for each song is heart-led and intuitive. As she explores and writes more, her sound is leaning towards a vintage pop and jazz artist from days gone by.

    After two decades of singing primarily classical music, she’s added multiple genres into her performance repertoire. Long-time colleague and founder of Calgary Concert Opera Company, Barbara King had this to say about Cara’s performances:

    I’ve known Cara McLeod for a long time, and every time I hear her sing, I’m blown away all over again. She has one of those voices that gives you chills—in the best way. Whether she’s belting out a powerful opera aria or slipping into something smooth and jazzy, she sings with so much heart and soul, it’s impossible not to be moved. What amazes me most is how natural it all seems for her. She can fill a concert hall with her voice one night and then turn around and sing a jazz set that feels cozy and personal the next, and somehow, both feel completely “her.” There’s no pretense - just real, honest music coming from someone who clearly loves what she does. Cara is one of the warmest, most genuine and positive people I know, and that energy comes through in every performance. She makes people feel something, and that’s a rare gift. If you ever get the chance to hear Cara sing—take it. You’ll be glad you did. 

    What her audiences may not know is that she began her love of music with Delta Dawn, choirs, and country music.  Growing up, Cara seized every opportunity to sing; in school choirs, private voice lessons, music festivals, and eventually competing in country karaoke competitions, singing harmonies on an electronic dance album, and recording a couple of original songs on a dance compilation CD. In her late 20’s she found herself in music school, and loved the challenge and depth of opera singing. 

    One of Cara’s performance highlights includes singing the lead role of Contessa in The Marriage of Figaro in Rome, Italy with Operafestival di Roma. When she stepped in as an understudy in the role of Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni with Edmonton Opera, Mark Morris of the Edmonton Journal noted, “…she pulled it off with a convincing character portrayal, vocally and theatrically.” Eclipsing these two professional experiences was when she shared the stage with her dad when he expressed a long-time wish of singing with her, and they performed “Country Roads” by John Denver.  In a serendipitous turn, in the year following his passing, she would find herself the guest soprano artist with Rocky Mountain High Tour - celebrating the music of John Denver. Cara has an inherent ability to connect deeply with an audience. Through heartfelt stories and humour she reveals the honesty in the music and in humanity.

    What do the audiences have to say about her work?

    “Your voice is clear and bright. ​​Your love of the music itself drew me in and made me feel your passion for the music.”

    “…a dynamic musical performer whose talents span opera, jazz, and pop. With a voice that effortlessly blends power and emotion, she has captivated audiences in intimate backyard concerts and grand venues alike.”

    “More than a remarkable artist, Cara McLeod is a wonderful human being whose warmth and passion shine through every note she sings. If you can, see her perform live—it's worth it.”

     As her performing and recording experiences intensify, Cara continues to be a sought-after teacher, presenter and adjudicator.


    Cara's passion for music began in her youth with choral singing and country music, later finding success in opera, including performances from Rome to Edmonton, in concert and recital settings. A versatile and vibrant artist, Cara spent two decades immersed primarily in classical music, and now through many twists and turns, she’s expanded her repertoire to include pop, jazz and blues. As her performing and recording experience expands, Cara continues to be a sought-after teacher, presenter and adjudicator.

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Video Clips

“I’ll Take Care of You”
McLeod, Bowman & Bray
Yardbird Suite ~ Jan. 18, 2025

“You Belong To Me”
McLeod, Bowman & Bray
Yardbird Suite ~ Jan. 18, 2025

Discography

ADDITIONAL RECORDINGS