To celebrate Black History Month, we’re taking a look at Oklahoma’s own opera legend Leona Mitchell.
Grammy Award-winning and Oklahoma State Cultural Ambassador Leona Mitchell’s long and storied career has taken her to famous opera houses all over the world, including 18 seasons as leading spinto soprano at the Metropolitan Opera. She was awarded Black Wall Street’s Legends Award last summer and has been inducted into Oklahoma’s Hall of Fame, Music Hall of Fame, Women’s Hall of Fame and African American Hall of Fame.
She studied at Oklahoma City University and Julliard and was awarded honorary doctorates from Oklahoma University and Oklahoma City University. She last performed with Tulsa Opera in 2017 (Puccini to Pop Concert pictured).
When she sat down with Artistic Director and composer Tobias Picker in December, there was a very exciting announcement! Watch their full conversation here and hear the good news!