A voice of devotion – lifting spirits, enriching souls through song

When Steven Leas was singing his praise to God in a synagogue in Johannesburg in South Africa as a child, he discovered that his voice could serve as an instrument that he could use to communicate his thoughts and emotions. While his spirits were uplifted through singing, Mr Leas realised that others were also moved by his songs.

“The medium and the message are potent in their appeal to the emotive aspects of one’s being,” said Mr Leas. “The power of music and the vocal harmony that enhances the resonance of every composition, creates a unique message that is poetic and poignant.”

The tenor also recognised that many people would lend him their ears when he sang. On 10 December 2008, Mr Leas will captivate the audience at the Commonwealth Secretariat in an event to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. He will be performing a song called Rights specially composed by Professor Paul Carroll of the Royal College of Music for the celebration. The event will celebrate music and song which is a form of freedom of expression as outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

“Rights, is a lovely song with well-written melody and meaningful lyrics,” said Mr Leas. “It is a pleasure to sing it.”

Mr Leas performs a wide range of songs that stretches his vocal range.

“I have a varied repertoire -- from hymns to operatic arias to West End musicals and pop songs,” said 39-year-old Mr Leas. “I love them all because of the musical range and different genres of composition. My favourite composer is Puccini because of his romantic music.”

On 10 December, Mr Leas will captivate his audience with E Lucevan Le Stelle from Tosca and hits such as This is the Moment from the musical Jeckyl and Hyde and Tonight from West Side Story.

When he is not taking centre stage, Mr Leas is involved in his vocation as a cantor at the Central Synagogue in London, UK, which he has been doing for the past six years. Before his move to London, Mr Leas was cantor of the Linkfield-Senderwood Hebrew Congregation in South Africa. Today, he also performs as a soloist with the London Jewish Male Choir and is also an active member of the Neimah Choir. Mr Leas’s interest in choral singing was cultivated from his teenage years with the Johannesburg Male Voice Choir where he was a soloist.

He has performed with the Pretoria Orchestra, the South African Symphony Orchestra and the Ra’anana Symphonette.

Mr Leas’s musical credits include appearances in The Sound of Music and The King and I staged in South Africa, Millennium Magic performed in Israel and Senator, The Duke and Shostakovich in London.

Apart from stage appearances, Mr Leas has also been involved in the musical production of the BBC documentary, Holocaust, which won an Emmy as well as the British Academy of Film and Television Arts award.