Crystal J. Leotaud - Musical Role Model

The sounds of classical guitar, heckelphone, flugelhorn, cornet, harpsichord, and organ are filling the air in the coliseum. Each piece is being fined tuned for the upcoming performance and each person knows handling each piece has a great role to play.


A young woman is tuning her Violin to be sure and mesh with the other instruments. It is there she begins to wonder if there is anyone who truly understands her vigor and passion for music and arts. Being a woman in an area where there seems to be more men than women, the young women is often left to dream on her own. If only there was someone she could talk to about her personal struggles.

If only she could meet and conversate with Crystal J. Leotaud and sit at her feet and glean from her wealth of knowledge. A woman who has walked in many shoes as well as blazed her own trails, Crystal knows the challenges that come with being a classically trained Vocalist/Musician.

Crystal J. Leotaud is a singing professional with 20 years of experience as a singer, coach and choir director. She began her studies at Dickerson Performing Arts Center in Long Island, New York, where she honed her skills with the Long Island Musical Theatre Ensemble. She was also studying ballet, tap and modern dance. At this time she began studying voice seriously with Soprano, Jeanne Faulkner and Baritone, Emory Taylor.

Ms. Leotaud then began winning many talent contests and participated in NYSSMA’s All-County, All-State and All-Eastern Choirs. She also participated in the very prestigious ACDA All-Eastern choir with the famed choral director Paul Salomonovich.

Before graduating from high school she studied at the Dance Theatre of Harlem and directly after studied at the famed Tanglewood Institute in Lenox, MA with Soprano, Joan Heller and took master classes with Musician, Bobby McFerrin.

Subsequently she began her conservatory studies at Boston University’s School for the Arts. While in Boston she sang with the gospel group S.A.I.J, did contract studio work for various R&B artists and performed and sang with the Boston Pops Choir featuring Patti Labelle, Edwin Hawkins and Charles Floyd.

On returning to the NYC area she began singing with the Bronx Opera Company while freelancing under the mentorship of Claudia Catania. In 1999 Ms. Leotaud began her career with New York City’s Department of Education teaching music. At this time she is the Performing Arts teacher at a K-8 school in Queens, New York, teaching voice, cello, violin and guitar.

Having met Crystal via Twitter, we connected and a great relationship was formed. I had the great opportunity of interviewing her and I think you will enjoy as well.

My Dear Sister, Let me say it’s a pleasure to interview you?
Why thank you Darian. I am excited to be interviewed as well.

Crystal, the readers would love to know you story. How did you end up on the path that you are on now?
Well I always knew I wanted to be an entertainer of some sort. I just wasn’t sure if my calling was to sing or dance. I was divinely tied to both. Fortunately my decision was chosen for me. Due to my physical structure I couldn’t be a ballerina and was told so when I was 17. I did however have the opportunity to study at theDance Theatre of Harlem had and I am forever grateful for that.

So I focused on becoming a vocalist. As a classical singer and being an African-American the struggle was much more than expected. In high school I was a very big fish in a small pond and I wasn’t ready at all.

I never had any formal lessons at that point and I was competing with girls who had for many, many years. What I learned was that music school was so very political. For the frst year I was blessed to have a teacher who fought tooth and nail for me but after she left I was alone and I had no one in my corner. I made my way though by taking some time off and learning different styles of singing. When I came back I was ready to compete but not in school but for the world.

My greatest challenge now is finding ways to help young artists understand the importance of good singing. It’s a science and the whole body is involved.

I am most certain that a woman of your caliber has Hero’s. Who do you consider your hero?
My hero is my mother. She’s the most fantastic woman on this earth. I have learned so much from her and I continue to do so

In a time, where being a vocally trained singer is a rare. Who do you look up to vocally? And Why?
My classical vocal heroes are Leontyne Price and Denyce Graves. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Chaka Khan because her voice has always sounded the same. Like a trumpet. She knows how to work her instrument and I think that is so encouraging. Also, the fact that she put out solo albums while still being with RUFUS is mesmerizing to me.

What do you say to encourage a young woman pursing her goals of being a singer/songwriter/Teacher?
I encourage women to always stay true yourself. NEVER allow folks to take away your shine. Find a teacher that you have a true connection with as the relationship will encourage your spirit of song.

What are you doing or what are your goals to give back to the community?
As a NYC teacher I try to give back each and everyday that I’m in the classroom. As I said above I want to start a non-profit in the next year or two.

What is one thing that has kept you grounded over the years and kept you humble?
Knowing that I still have so much to learn always keeps me humble. I love to learn and I love to pass on informaton. If one person tells me tha a tip I gave them helped, that makes my day. Also, knowing that God gave me this gift reminds me that He wouldn’t be thrilled if I wasted it.

We are living in Critical times. Everything one does is picked apart daily. How do you handle critics and their opinions?
I’m still struggling with that. I remind myself that every great singer has critics and you can’t please everyone.

Absolutely! How do you escape challeging times, etc?
That’s a hard one. I read quite a bit and write a little. Mostly, I am comforted by my family and friends. I do sometimes feel overwhelmed by things I hear in the news but I try to focus on what I can do to help, even if it’s teaching someone something the priceless gem of musicianship and song.

Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
I see myself running a non-profit school teaching urban youth the beauty of classical music with a full youth choir and orchestra.

What I love most about Crystal Leotaud, is her ability to remain humbled and touchable in spite of all her great accomplishments. That makes her a Certified Role Model who is clearly on her way to being a Great LEGEND!

www.cjlvocalstudio.com



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