Los Robles Master Chorale appoints new artistic director

Los Robles Master Chorale, a nonprofit performing arts group, has appointed Lesley Leighton as its new artistic director. Leighton will assume the position in September when the Chorale begins its 31st season.

Leighton is a doctoral student in choral conducting at USC and has a master's degree in music-vocal performance from USC.

She is the director of the Oriana Women's Chorus at USC and assistant director of the Choral Society of Southern California.

Leighton has sung with Los Angeles Master Chorale and the Jacaranda Chamber Singers, and has appeared as a principal artist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, L.A. Opera, Los Angeles Master Chorale, New York City Opera and the Norway Symphony.

From 2002 to 2004, she was director of development for the office of New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.

Leighton will be conducting when the Master Chorale presents its holiday concerts on Dec. 12 and 13 in Thousand Oaks.