Lea Grant is a jazz vocalist and singer/songwriter based in Denton, Texas.
She was born and raised in Los Angeles by her artist mother (stained glass, ceramics & jewelry) and her film composer father. There were always creative projects occupying tabletops and counterspace, keyboards and sonic space. If there was ever a dull moment after homework had been done, the parental recommendation was to make something.
After studying voice at Hamilton Music Academy for high school, Lea earned her BA in Music training as an opera singer at UC Santa Cruz. Since then, she has performed with many award winning ensembles including SF Lyric Opera, Repertory Opera of LA, International Orange Chorale, and Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir.
Learning to sing classically was an incredible gift because of the discipline and self-awareness it required, yet it didn't feel right as a primary mode of self-expression. In 2007, Lea began writing and performing her own compositions, accompanying herself on piano. With her band, she made the rounds, regularly playing shows in small clubs and coffee shops throughout the bay area. She recorded two cds, “Earthbound” (2010) and “Cities of Snow”(2013), the latter of which was successfully crowd-funded through Kickstarter in 2012.
In early 2014, Lea accidentally discovered that she adores singing jazz. She was looking for a new voice teacher, with the intention of setting off in a new artistic direction. She found Laurie Antonioli and was immediately drawn in by their mutual love and appreciation for Joni Mitchell. Having studied with Laurie and other bay area artists, Lea felt inspired to return to the rigors of academia. Lea is now fervently working towards a Master's degree in Jazz Studies at the University of North Texas.
She was born and raised in Los Angeles by her artist mother (stained glass, ceramics & jewelry) and her film composer father. There were always creative projects occupying tabletops and counterspace, keyboards and sonic space. If there was ever a dull moment after homework had been done, the parental recommendation was to make something.
After studying voice at Hamilton Music Academy for high school, Lea earned her BA in Music training as an opera singer at UC Santa Cruz. Since then, she has performed with many award winning ensembles including SF Lyric Opera, Repertory Opera of LA, International Orange Chorale, and Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir.
Learning to sing classically was an incredible gift because of the discipline and self-awareness it required, yet it didn't feel right as a primary mode of self-expression. In 2007, Lea began writing and performing her own compositions, accompanying herself on piano. With her band, she made the rounds, regularly playing shows in small clubs and coffee shops throughout the bay area. She recorded two cds, “Earthbound” (2010) and “Cities of Snow”(2013), the latter of which was successfully crowd-funded through Kickstarter in 2012.
In early 2014, Lea accidentally discovered that she adores singing jazz. She was looking for a new voice teacher, with the intention of setting off in a new artistic direction. She found Laurie Antonioli and was immediately drawn in by their mutual love and appreciation for Joni Mitchell. Having studied with Laurie and other bay area artists, Lea felt inspired to return to the rigors of academia. Lea is now fervently working towards a Master's degree in Jazz Studies at the University of North Texas.
