H. Leslie Adams

1932 - 2024

About

Leslie Adams is considered one of the modern leading composers in African American Art song. He wrote many songs for voice and piano and was equally at ease writing for orchestra, chamber ensemble, organ, piano, and chorus.

Adams received his primary education from Cleveland, Ohio public schools training with Mina Eichenbaum, Dorothy Smith, Howard Tucker. He went to Oberlin College Conservatory of Music to study composition with Herbert Elwell and Joseph Wood; voice with Robert Fountain; and piano with Emil Danenberg for his Bachelors. Adams completed his Masters in 1967 at California State University under the tutelage of Leon Dallin and Robert Tyndall and earned his Ph. D at Ohio State University with Marshall Barnes. In addition to these degrees, Leslie Adam pursued post-graduate studies with Edward Mattila and Eugene O’Brien while also studying privately with Robert Starer, Vittorio Giannini, and Marcel Dick.

He took on the role of piano accompanist for various ballet and dance companies (including studios of Ballet Russe, Robert Joeffrey and June Taylor); received numerous performances of his compositions by a variety of artists (including a composer debut at Judson Hall); and held positions at Florida A&M University and University of Kansas as assistant professor of music.

Leslie Adam’s talent earned him multitudes of awards, the highest among them being the National Award for Original Composition for Choral Art and the National Endowment for the Arts Award.

Before his passing in 2024, he acted as artisit-in-residence and President of Creative Arts, Inc., artist-in residence at Seifullah, and music director of Grace Presbyterian Church in Ohio.

Related Information

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Adams_(composer)

Works by H. Leslie Adams