Leslie Mauldin has performed dynamically and to critical acclaim in many venues, from touring Israel as soprano soloist with the Israeli Philharmonic to a one woman show in Spain, where she attended conservatory. Her work comprises diverse leading opera and oratorio roles for various companies around the US and abroad, and has garnered rave reviews, some of which appear at the end of this bio. A versatile singer, Leslie recently joined forces with jazz pianist Sean Rogers to form the duo PinkFusion which had their debut performance right before Covid struck. Check out their
PinkFusion Thursday live Vlog series on Sean Roger's or Leslie Mauldin’s fb page! Also available at PinkFusion-music.com or on the PinkFusion fb page
A native of Los Angeles, Leslie has also done film and television work, and is a member of Screen Actors Guild/AFTRA.
In 2014, Leslie’s career took her in an unexpected direction where she focused on a new modern folk and eclectic music trio called Avenue B, who debuted in St. Louis as part of the 2014 celebration of that city’s 250’th birthday, and moved on to bookings in Milwaukee, Salt Lake City, and various concert series and events in the Intermountain West. She was joined in Avenue B by Jed Moss, formerly of Air Supply (Pianist/Baritone), and her brother John Mauldin (Bass Guitar, percussion, Tenor). Avenue B released their debut album - Roots: Back to Passion - in April of 2017, then headed back to the concert stage. The group garnered rave reviews, and each audience came to their feet at the end of the show. Avenue B came with a surprise to Leslie Mauldin’s operatic fans, since Leslie wrote many original songs for the group that include a revival of her acoustic guitar playing - an instrument that she has played since childhood, (“Dad, thanks for teaching me!”) but had mostly put aside once her opera, stage performance and direction career began. Surprisingly, it was opera that led her back to those roots. During a production of Verdi’s opera Falstaff wherein she played the guitar live onstage in her character depiction of “Alice Ford”, Leslie was reminded of her love for that instrument, picked it up again, and followed the “yellow brick road” to form Avenue B with her brother John Mauldin, and her best friend from childhood and lifelong musical colleague Jed Moss.
Update and a memorial tribute: Avenue B’s album is still available on their website at avenueb-music.com. However, Avenue B and the international music community tragically lost Jed Moss, pianist, baritone, and cherished friend, to sudden illness in 2019. Leslie and her brother John would like to pay tribute to his legacy by continuing to offer this music, which also benefits The Cousteau Society. For the album, click here to visit Avenue B’s website, or go to avenueb-music.com
This review is from the Avenue B's final live concert:
“To say this group’s music was fantastic would be the understatement of the year. Each member brought a richness and style which blended beautifully in this eclectic group. The response to this concert was that it was the best of the season. This is a truly special group which should be on anyone’ s list for upcoming concerts. We give them five stars and highly recommend them.”
-Barbara-Lee Jordan, President of Clearwater Community Concert Association
Jed Moss, you are now and will always be deeply missed; Play with the angels, my dear friend. I'll be listening.
More about Leslie Mauldin’s classical and theatre work:
Some of the roles Ms. Mauldin has performed include the title role in “Tosca,” “Violetta” (La Traviata), “Musetta” (La Boheme), “Micaela” (Carmen), “Micaela” (Le Tragedie de Carmen, and Carmen), “Hanna Glavari” (The Merry Widow), “Donna Anna” (Don Giovanni), “Alice Ford” (Falstaff), “Clorinda” (La Cenerentola), “Pamina” and “First Lady” (Magic Flute). Her concert/oratorio work as a soprano soloist comprises over a dozen varied works including Mendelssohn’s Midsummer Night’s Dream performed at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, with Claire Bloom narrating, and soprano soloist in Mozart’s Missa Brevis in C with the Israeli Philharmonic. Ms. Mauldin’s versatile performance repertoire also includes numerous musical and theatre roles including the role of Lilli Vanessi “Kate” (Kiss Me Kate), Sharon Graham (Master Class), Kathie (The Student Prince), Eurydice (Orpheus in the Underworld), Sarah Brown (Guys and Dolls), and Nellie Forbush (South Pacific.)
Stage and/or musical direction credits include Suor Angelica, Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, La Boheme, The Mikado, Opera Idaho sings Christmas, and Opera Under the Stars and most recently an outreach production of Elixir of Love that was performed 30 times, and reached over 12,000 students! Choreography credits include The Mikado and The Pirates of Penzance.
As a dedicated advocate for arts and education, Ms. Mauldin serves on the Meridian, Idaho Arts Commission. She also shortens operas for educational outreach performance, and her growing library contains Don Giovanni, The Merry Widow, The Magic Flute, The Mikado, and La Boheme, all of which have been performed live onstage.
Ms. Mauldin has recently written “Holiday Trilogy”, a three part theatrical holiday celebration that includes an original short musical for the Halloween Season entitled “Halloween saves the Holidays”, Thanksgiving choral programming, and a Holiday Special in the old tv style (think Bing Crosby and Perry Como) with the last 2 installments (Thanksgiving and Christmas shows) featuring Carlotta Dickens, a character from the original musical “Halloween save the Holidays” as emcee.
…and now, as earlier promised, here are some reviews -
“Mauldin looks smashing and sings beautifully, and her suicide leap from the parapet of Castel San Angelo was breathtaking.” Spokesman Review, “Tosca”
“Ms. Mauldin’s clear soprano and striking physical presence made her seem somehow 4-dimensional to those in the audience; her voice stirred up all manner of feelings – including a nostalgia that hit us right in the solar plexus” The Idaho Statesman
“Mauldin combines the vocal tenderness and verve of Verdi’s consumptive courtesan and a youthful beauty with an experienced actress’s ability to make the audience feel Violetta’s great range of emotions…Mauldin sang beautifully!” Spokesman Review, "La Traviata"
“...performed the title role with stunning clarity of voice, and brought fun-loving insouciance to the character.” L.A. Times, "The Merry Widow"
