Emily Greenleaf

Emily Greenleaf started her formal musical studies as a pianist, but switched to voice because of the enormous practicality of a self-ambulating instrument.  She is known for her versatile technique and love of vocal exploration and improvisation, from the squeaks and yodels of extended technique to Bel Canto singing.  She has sung many premieres, most recently Byron Au Young’s Kidnapping Water: Bottled Operas.  She has also performed with The Esoterics, D-9 Dance Collective, Seattle Creative Orchestra, the UW Contemporary Group, and the University of Manitoba eXperimental Improv Ensemble.  In 2004, she created the soundtrack for the short documentary The Choice, a film she made with Photojournalist Betty Udesen about a community living in the midst of a war-zone in Colombia.

Emily has a BA in Women’s Studies and Latin American History from Oberlin College, and an Artist Diploma in Vocal Performance from the University of Manitoba.  She performs regularly with her partner, pianist Jerrod Wendland, and sings weekly at Temple Beth-Am in Seattle and East Shore Unitarian Church in Bellevue.  She is the Chair of Vocal Studies at the Academy of Music Northwest, and also teaches voice in her studio in Wallingford.  Emily started learning accordion two months ago, when Susie told her there was no money in the budget to hire a string quartet and percussionist.  As soon as she has time, she’s going to start learning as many Jacques Brel tunes as she can.