Dynamic Canadian conductor Leslie Dala is steadily in demand across Canada, in 2015 leading productions of The Magic Flute (Edmonton Opera) and Madama Butterfly (Saskatoon Opera). As Music Director of the Vancouver Bach Choir, Leslie conducted the Canadian premiere of John Adams’ El Niño and Mendelssohn’s Elijah with Vancouver Symphony. Equally at home with symphonic music, opera and contemporary music, Leslie was a guest conductor with Thunder Bay Symphony in 2016, and was recently chosen as Principal Conductor of the Vancouver Academy of Music. From 2003 to 2011, Leslie held the position of Music Director and Conductor of the Prince George Symphony.
As Associate Conductor and Chorus Master of the Vancouver Opera, Leslie has prepared over fifty main stage productions, and has conducted performances of The Magic Flute, Rigoletto and West Side Story. In 2013/14, Britten’s centenary, Leslie conducted Albert Herring for Pacific Opera Victoria, Vancouver Opera, and at University of Toronto’s Opera Division. Leslie has collaborated with the UBC Opera Ensemble for several seasons conducting many productions including The Florentine Straw Hat (Nino Rota). Maestro Dala leads the popular “Merry Evening of Opera” concerts presented each August by the Bard on the Beach Festival
Previously held positions for this versatile conductor include Music Director of Les Jeunes Voix du Rhin, in Strasbourg, France and the Opera as Theatre program at Banff Centre, where he conducted John Estacio’s Lillian Alling. Leslie Dala opened Vancouver Opera’s 2014/15 season with the world premiere of Stickboy, a powerful new anti-bullying opera by Neil Weisensel and Shane Koyczan.
An avid performer of contemporary music, Leslie conducted the Toronto premiere of Shelter (Palmer/Salverson) for Tapestry New Opera and the North American premiere of Philippe Boesmans’ opera Julie for Canadian Stage. A frequent guest with Soundstreams Canada, this past season Leslie conducted George Crumb’s haunting Ancient Voices of Children with soprano Adrianne Pieczonka in ‘Beyond the Aria’ and celebrates ‘Steve Reich at 80’ at Massey Hall.
Guest conducting engagements for Maestro Dala include The Nutcracker with Vancouver Opera Orchestra for Goh Ballet, Menotti’s Postcards from Morocco with University of Toronto’s Opera Division, and in 2015, Così fan Tutte, Centre for Opera Studies in Italy.