Leona Mitchell
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Leona Pearl Mitchell (born October 13, 1949,
In her home state of Oklahoma, she received many honors. These include the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame. She received honorary doctorates from Oklahoma City University and the University of Oklahoma.[1] In 1983, she was inducted into the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame.
Her home town of Enid has a street named after her called Leona Mitchell Boulevard, as well as the Leona Mitchell Southern Heights Heritage Center and Museum. Governor Brad Henry of Oklahoma made her Oklahoma's State Cultural Ambassador.
Early life and education
Mitchell started singing at an early age in the choir of the Antioch Church of God in Christ in Enid, where her father, Reverend Dr. Hulon Mitchell, was the Minister along with her mother, Dr. Pearl Olive Mitchell (née Leatherman), who was the pianist. Leona was the tenth-born of Hulon and Pearl Mitchell's 15 children.[2]
One of her elder brothers, Hulon Mitchell Jr., was better known as Yahweh ben Yahweh, leader of the Nation of Yahweh cult.
Leona Mitchell received a BA in music from Oklahoma City University and went on to graduate studies at the Juilliard School of Music in New York. She married Elmer Bush III, by whom she had one son, Elmer Bush IV.[3]
Professional career
In 1973, she made her debut as Micaela in
Mitchell has contributed to several recordings, had many television appearances, and served as honorary chair for Black Heritage Month to the Oklahoma legislature.
In 1988, Mitchell performed the role of Liù from Turandot, directed by Franco Zeffirelli, at the Metropolitan Opera. She collaborated with many great conductors, including Zubin Mehta, Lorin Maazel, James Levine, and Seiji Ozawa.
She was a leading soprano with the Metropolitan Opera of New York for 18 seasons. She sang at most of the world's best-known opera houses in such roles as Turandot, Aida, Micaela, Manon, Leonora, Amalia Delilah, Mimi, and Musetta, as well as Pamina, Madama Butterfly, Lauretta, and Madame Lidoine.
She performed for five
On July 5, 1986, she performed in the
She appeared on such televised broadcasts as The Merv Griffin Show, The Dick Cavett Show, and The Jerry Lewis Telethon.
Videography
- The Metropolitan Opera Centennial Gala, Deutsche Grammophon DVD, 00440-073-4538, 2009
- Puccini: Turandot / Metropolitan Opera, Deutsche Grammonphon DVD, 073-058-9, 1989
References
Notes
- ^ "Mitchell, Leona Pearl | The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture". Oklahoma Historical Society | OHS. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
- ^ Pittman, Kitty, "Mitchell, Leona Pearl", Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History & Culture, Oklahoma Historical Society. Accessed November 7, 2022.
- ^ Pittman, Kitty, "Mitchell, Leona Pearl", Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History & Culture, Oklahoma Historical Society. Accessed November 7, 2022.
- ^ "Liberty Receives Classical Salute Archived 2015-02-23 at the Wayback Machine, Sun Sentinel, July 5, 1986
Sources
- Leona Mitchell Southern Heights Indian Museum website home page; information. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
- Shepherd, Kenneth R., Contemporary Black Biography: Leona Mitchell. The Gale Group, 2006.