Opera & Classical

CARA LIANNE MCLEOD is an Edmonton-based singer praised for her "enviable clarity of tone" (Opera Canada). Recognized as a vibrant and generous artist both on and off stage, she inspires audiences with her distinct voice and compelling honesty in operas, recitals, and concerts. 

Ms. McLeod made her operatic debut in Cosi Fan Tutte and most recently performed Annina in La Traviata with Edmonton Opera. She made her company debut with

Edmonton Opera in the role of High Priestess in Aida and subsequently sang Berta in Il Barbiere de Siviglia. As a cover, Cara went on to successfully perform the role of Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, for which Edmonton Journal’s Mark Morris noted, “A special word must go to Edmonton soprano Cara McLeod as Donna Elvira. She stepped in as an understudy during rehearsals…and she pulled it off with a convincing character portrayal, vocally and theatrically.”

Other credits include Nedda in Pagliacci, Contessa in Le Nozze di Figaro and Micaëla in Carmen with Mercury Opera, Calgary Concert Opera Company, Vancouver Island Opera, and Opera festival di Roma.

In recital and concert, Ms. McLeod has appeared as a featured soloist with Vancouver Island Opera, Red Deer Symphony, Edmonton Youth Orchestra, and Calgary Concert Opera Company. As the soprano soloist for the Alberta Symphony Orchestra Society (ASO), Ms. McLeod toured throughout Alberta, under the direction of Emilio De Mercato.  She has subsequently appeared as the soprano soloist with Maestro De Mercato in Symphony Paradiso: The Movie Music of Ennio Morricone and Nino Rota, and several other performances with ASO including A Tribute to Renoir. She made her Edmonton Symphony Orchestra debut with conductor Lee Holdridge, performing in Rocky Mountain High - An Evening of John Denver, highlighting her versatility as an artist.  She has performed the National Anthem at the Alberta Legislature several times, including for Canada’s 150th birthday.

During the Covid19 pandemic, Cara remained as active as possible; singing and connecting with audiences both in outdoor venues and online performances. She performed with Edmonton Opera, Calgary Concert Opera Company, Peace Region Music Series, and on her own. She taught select students online, and adjudicated the Ontario Music Festival Association Junior Voice classes.  A major highlight, and labour of love, was co-creating and performing in Music in the Air, an outdoor concert series presented by Alberta Symphony Orchestra Society. Together with Emilio De Mercato, they offered 26 performances, both private and public, in Edmonton and various cities throughout Alberta. In June 2022, Music in the Air - One Night at the Amphitheatre offered the audience a full-length concert of opera, classical, pop and crossover music, and included the first live performance of Cara’s new single, My Love, with special guest, saxophonist Jeff Hendrick.  

As her endeavours continue to expand, upcoming commitments include writing on and completing her debut album, collaborating with other artists and mixing genres, singing the role of Elisabetta in Donizetti’s Roberto Devereux with Calgary Concert Opera Company, and returning to the Winspear stage for A Rocky Mountain High Christmas. Cara also remains a sought-after teacher, adjudicator and clinician. Learn more at CaraLianneMcLeod.com.

Queen Elisabetta

Roberto Devereux by Donizetti at Calgary Concert Opera Company, Music Directed by William Shookhoff

Annina

La Traviata by Verdi at Edmonton Opera, Directed by Alain Gauthier and Conducted by Judith Yan

Donna Elvira

Don Giovanni by Mozart at Edmonton Opera, Directed by Oriol Thomas and Conducted by Christopher Larkin

Berta

Il Barbiere di Siviglia by Rossini at Edmonton Opera, Directed by Allison Grant and Conducted by Robert Dean

High Priestess

Aida by Verdi at Edmonton Opera, Directed by Dejan Miladnović and Conducted by Richard Buckley

Micaëla

Carmen by Bizet at Calgary Concert Opera Company, Directed by Barbara King

Carmen by Bizet at Vancouver Island Opera, Directed by Tatiana Vasilieva and Conducted by Gerald van Wyck

Contessa

Le Nozze di Figaro by Mozart at Operafestival di Roma, Directed by Dr. Peter Atherton and Conducted by Francesco Carotenuto

Nedda

Pagliacci by Leoncavallo at Mercury Opera, Directed by Darcia Parada and Conducted by Mark Hyscko

Sandman & Dew Fairy

Hänsel and Gretel by Humperdinck at Opera NUOVA, Directed by Kim Mattice Wanat and Conducted by Ruggero Barbieri

Despina

Cosi fan Tutte (in concert) by Mozart at The Opera Project, Directed by Heidi Klassen and Conducted by Ruggero Barbieri

Mozart Vespers, Vocal Alchemy & Chronos Vocal Ensemble,  Conducted by Jordan Van Biert

Rocky Mountain High: An Evening of John Denver Edmonton Symphony Orchestra,  Conducted by Lee Holdridge

National Anthem for Canada Day 150, Alberta Legislature

Opera al Fresco for Edmonton Opera, University of Alberta Botanic Garden

Symphony of Hope: Benefit Concert for Fort McMurray for Alberta Symphony Orchestra, Accompanied & Conducted by Emilio De Mercato

Symphony Paradiso: The Movie Music of Ennio Morricone & Nino Rota, Artistically Directed and Conducted by Emilio De Mercato

Premiere Tour of Alberta for Alberta Symphony Orchestra, Accompanied & Conducted by Emilio De Mercato

A Night at the Opera Gala for Mercury Opera, Directed by Darcia Parada and Conducted by Boris Derow

La Dolce Vita – A Taste of Italy, Suncor Energy Centre for the Performing Arts

Ft. McMurray Music Teachers’ Association Concert, Suncor Energy Centre for the Performing Arts

Viva Verdi Gala Concert for Edmonton Opera / Edmonton Youth Orchestra, Conducted by Michael Massey

Let the Music Move You, Suncor Energy Centre for the Performing Arts

Valentine’s Gala, Edmonton Opera

Glenn Gould Piano Festival

Opera NUOVA Cabaret, Directed by Kim Mattice Wanat

Debut Gala Concert, Calgary Concert Opera Company, Directed by Barbara King

Oceanside Recital Series, Vancouver Island Opera

Music for Life: Cancer Society Fundraiser, Red Deer Symphony Orchestra, Conducted by Claude Lapalme

In addition to her performing, Cara McLeod has been teaching voice to students of all ages for over 15 years. She cares deeply for her students and focuses on their individual needs, encouraging them to reach their full potential, whether in private lessons or workshop settings.  Ms. McLeod has also vocal coached and artistic directed numerous projects, including the small vocal ensemble at Keyano College and the Alberta Heritage Music Project, bringing seniors and students together in a music-memory collaboration and performance.  

Cara is a sought-after adjudicator and clinician who finds a strong sense of gratification in working with singers of all ages, and providing them with feedback on their singing journey. In 2010, she conducted three workshops for choristers in the Elk Island Choirs, wherein Leesila Dawkins, the Junior Honour Choir Director stated, “Cara is energetic and organized. She has a warm, powerful lyric voice, as well as a beautiful interpretive dramatic and musical sense.  I feel she is a singer and workshop leader of wonderful potential.”  In 2018, she was a mentor for the Artist In Residency program with the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, and as a result of that work, was inspired to create workshops “Reveal your Voice: Exploring Expression & Creativity through Singing” to empower participants to uncover their true potential.

Ms. McLeod is also a past committee member of the Friends of Suncor Energy Centre for the Performing Arts, and past Board member and Chair of Alberta Music Education Foundation, a registered charity that provides funding and innovative ideas for music education throughout Alberta, which she still supports as a member and volunteer.

Voice Teacher

Private Voice Instruction, 2003 – Present

Musical Theatre Instructor, Keyano College Conservatory, 2010-2011 

Voice Instructor, Keyano College of Visual & Performing Arts, 2009-2010 

Small Ensemble Director, Keyano College of Visual & Performing Arts, 2009-2010

Vocal Coach/Clinician

Grande Prairie Regional College Visitor in the Arts and Masterclass Technician, February 2020

Vocal Training Mentor Artist in Residence program, Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, July 2018

Vocal Coach, Grease, Keyano Theatre, 2008

Introduction to Opera Workshops Elk Island Honour Choirs, 2010

Adjudicator

Ontario Music Festivals Association, Junior Voice provincials, 2021

Oilsands Rotary Music Festival, Voice, 2019

Medicine Hat Rotary Music Festival, Voice, 2016

High River Music Festival, Voice, 2012 

Lacombe Music Festival, Voice, 2012 

Medicine Hat Rotary Music Festival, Junior Voice, 2011

Sherwood Park Music Festival, Senior Voice, 2009

Alberta Heritage Music Project, Connecting Seniors and Students, Rotary House & Golden Years Society

La Dolce Vita – A Taste of Italy, Suncor Energy Centre for the Performing Arts

Let the Music Move You, Suncor Energy Centre for the Performing Arts

Programs

Artist Diploma in Performance with Distinction, University of Western Ontario

• Voice Spot - Level 1 Voice Over Adventure

• Operafestival di Roma

• St. Andrews Opera Workshop

• Opera NUOVA Intensive

• International Voice Workshop with Richard Armstrong at Banff Centre for the Arts

Teachers

• Susan Eichhorn Young

• Torin Chiles

• Rebecca Hass

• Wendy Nielsen

Coaches

• Keith Chambers

• Tom Diamond

• Gordon Gerrard

• Shannon Hiebert

• Alexandra Munn

• Leanne Regehr

• Susan Morton

• Lucy Arner

Canadian Actors’ Equity Association (CAEA)

Canadian Music Festival Adjudicators’ Association (CMFAA)

National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS)

Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) (Apprentice)