Canadian soprano, Leslie Bickle is an emerging young artist known for her dramatic stage presence, expressive voice and versatility in opera, oratorio, art song and contemporary repertoire.
2017-2018 season engagements included many role debuts in both England and Germany, Donna Anna (Don Giovanni), Rosalinde (Die Fledermaus), Ilia (Idomeneo) and Micaëla (La Tragédie de Carmen). Equally at home in chamber music, Leslie was the soprano in the Kohn Foundation Bach Cantata Series performing in both BWV 115 and BWV 120 under the baton of Iain Ledingham.
Other recent roles include Lucy (Die Dreigroschenoper), Cupidon (Orphée aux Enfers), Mrs. Webb (Our Town), 2nd Wood Sprite (Rusalka), Israeli Woman (Noor Over Afghan).
A native of Toronto, Leslie received her Bachelor Degree from the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Music. In the fall of 2016, Leslie joined the Royal Academy Opera in London, England pursuing an Advanced Diploma at the Royal Academy of Music.
Leslie has found competition success as a National Finalist in the Canadian Music Competition, a National Semi-Finalist and Regional Finalist with the New York Lyric Opera Theatre, and a Finalist in the Symphony on the Bay Young Arts Competition. She was also awarded the Catherine Osbourne Opera Award and the Porter Fund Award.
To date, Leslie has had the privilege of working with various companies in her native country of Canada and in Europe. This has included Opera Atelier, Muskoka Opera Festival, Amersham Festival of Music, Tapestry Opera, the Berlin Opera Academy, Canadian Stage Company, Toronto Opera Collaborative, Oakville Chamber Orchestra and the Toronto New Music Festival.