México (en)canta! presents Mexican soprano, Lupita Leal, in concert, sponsored by the MexiCanisius of Canisius College in cooperation with Friends of Hispanic Arts on Sunday April 17, 2016 at 7:00pm in the Montante Cultural Center at 2001 Main Street, Buffalo, New York.

Born in Guanajuato, Mexico, Ms. Leal studied at the Universidad Michoacana in Morelia, where she was a member of singing ensembles that toured Mexico, Spain, Honduras, and the U.S. She studied vocalization and repertoire at the Conservatorio de las Rosas (Morelia) with famous maestra Lupita Góngora. Lupita also studied vocal refinement with renowned vocal pedagogues Alicia Torres Garza, Encarnación Vázquez, and Maria Vitoria Toniietti, among others.

In 1995, Ms. Leal sang the part of “Rosita” in the zarzuela Luisa Fernanda with the Chamber Orchestra of Universidad Michoacan under the baton of maestro Mario Rodríguez Taboada. Her CD, Intimidad, was recorded for the Instituto Michoacano de Cultura and promotes Mexican song with a special focus on those written by Michoacan composers. Lupita can also be heard on the recording Canciones de mi Mexico de Ayer with the Dueto Zacán with whom she has toured U.S., Chile, and Mexico.

Ms.Leal has given concerts throughout the U.S. with various chamber and symphony orchestras including performances in New York, Georgia, Oklahoma, California, and Texas. In Texas, she was delighted to have the opportunity to sing with famous Mexican tenor Juán Miguel López, Spanish pianist Felipe Ramirez and the Mariachi Mexicanísimo. In 2003, she sang at the G20 meeting of finance ministers and is often invited to sing at festivals throughout Mexico.

Ms. Leal is the Artist in Residence at the Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo and also served as the director of the Casa de la Cultura “Chamacuero” of Guanajuato from 2009 to 2012. As an artist, Ms. Leal is greatly interested in awakening the interest and appreciation of the arts among the younger generation, especially for Mexican music. Lupita works tirelessly in this endeavor through numerous concerts for young audiences. Ms. Leal currently resides in Guanajatao (Mexico), and frequently performs in San Miquel Allende.

By Emilio Fuentes