ASYO FEATURING ISABEL LEONARD
MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2026, 6:30 P.M.
ASHEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM
Witness the next generation of musicians take the stage alongside one of the world’s leading vocalists. As part of the Asheville Symphony’s Artist Residency: A Celebration of Voice, the Asheville Symphony Youth Orchestra’s Youth Philharmonic will perform with three-time GRAMMY Award-winning vocalist Isabel Leonard.
Joined by the Asheville Youth Choirs and the Concert Orchestra, this extraordinary collaboration will showcase Gershwin and American music, giving our student musicians the rare opportunity to share the spotlight with an internationally acclaimed artist who has graced the stages of the Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, and beyond. For audiences, it’s a chance to experience the excitement of youthful talent meeting world-class artistry—an inspiring evening you won’t want to miss.
All tickets are General Admission. Admission is free for those children aged 18 and younger. All patrons must have a ticket for entry.
Asheville Symphony’s Artist Residency: A Celebration of Voice
Asheville Symphony’s Artist Residency is a biennial initiative that celebrates the legacy and impact of one instrument with the help of a renowned artist.
Returning March 16–23, 2026, this season’s Artist Residency celebrates the expressive power of the human voice is three-time GRAMMY Award-winning vocalist Isabel Leonard.
In 2026, we welcome acclaimed vocalist Isabel Leonard to Asheville for A Celebration of Voice, a weeklong residency that showcases the beauty, versatility, and storytelling power of vocal music. Known for her captivating stage presence and remarkable vocal range, Leonard has performed iconic roles at every major opera house in the world, including The Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, Wiener Staatsoper, and Opéra National de Paris.
Through a diverse slate of performances, educational engagements, and community experiences, this residency invites audiences of all ages and backgrounds to explore the voice as an instrument — from classical arias to folk songs and contemporary works. Whether you’re a young singer, a seasoned opera lover, or someone simply curious about the magic of the human voice, this week is for you.
Three-time Grammy Award-winning artist Isabel Leonard has established herself as one of the most in-demand performers, a star on the world’s leading stages and screens. The 2025–2026 season sees Ms. Leonard’s return to The Metropolitan Opera for two prominent productions: the title role in Bizet’s Carmen, under the baton of Fabien Gabel, with a production by Carrie Cracknell; and the leading role of Frida in Gabriela Lena Frank’s El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego, in a new production by Deborah Colker making its company premiere, with performances conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin. She will also return to Bayerische Staatsoper to sing her signature Angelina in the Jean-Pierre Ponnelle production of Cenerentola, as well as singing the title role in Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortilèges with the San Diego Symphony under Music Director Rafael Payare.
This season also features Ms. Leonard as a Perspectives Artist at Carnegie Hall, where she will present a series of concerts and performances throughout the season highlighting her perspective as a performing artist. Performances include a recital in Stern Auditorium with pianist John Arida, sing Knoxville: Summer of 1915 with The Met Orchestra, led by Yannick Nézet-Séguin, and participate in the prestigious 50th Anniversary of the Concert of the Century Gala, also conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Her Perspectives series closes with a Spanish Song and Dance Recital with vocalist Ismael Fernández and dancer Sonia Olla.
Additional engagements include a residency with the Asheville Symphony Orchestra, comprising of a recital with John Arida, an orchestral performance featuring Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915 with the Symphony, and a concert of Gershwin and American Music with the Youth Orchestra. She also appears in residency at Washington University in St. Louis, including a masterclass and recital with John Arida; and with Montclair State University, where she performs Knoxville: Summer of 1915 in conjunction with a masterclass.
The 2024–2025 season saw Ms. Leonard’s much anticipated return to Opéra National de Paris as Rosina in Damiano Michieletto’s production of Il barbiere di Siviglia, conducted by Diego Matheuz, and her house debut with Gran Teatre del Liceu as Anita in a concert performance of Bernstein’s West Side Story, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel. Ms. Leonard also returned to Houston Grand Opera to sing Angelina in Joan Font’s production of Cenerentola and for her directorial debut leading the HGO Family Day production of Cinderella, as well as her return to The Metropolitan Opera as Rosina in Bartlett Sher’s celebrated production of Il barbiere di Siviglia. Orchestral appearances include performances of Les Nuits d’été with Kevin John Edusei conducting the New York Philharmonic, and Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony conducted by Music Director Courtney Lewis. Residencies this season include with the Juilliard School, Rice University, and the Aspen Music Festival. Ms. Leonard also continues her collaboration with guitarist Pablo Sáinz Villegas, performing their all-Spanish program at the Gallo Center for the Performing Arts, and appears in recital with Matinee Musicale in Cincinnati, OH, Teatro de la Ciudad in Monterrey, Mexico, Sala Sao Paulo, and Teatro Municipal de Río de Janeiro.
