Leilani Velasco

Music Director, Voces Festivas

Leilani Velasco joined the Festival Singers family as a choir member in 2020 and is excited to bring a new voice to the Choral Foundation. She will be directing the up and coming ensemble Voces Festivas that highlights Spanish choral music as well as the Spanish language and community.

 Born in Los Angeles, California and relocated to the Kansas City area in 2008, Ms. Velasco has taken her talent and passion for music with her half way across the country. She grew up surrounded by music as her family’s choir Coro Santa Cecilia traveled from L.A. as well and has performed all over the Kansas City area. Ms. Velasco joined her family’s choir at the age of 12, which allowed her to grow closer to her language and begin her passion for choral singing. She is now the assistant music director for the family choir.

 Ms. Velasco graduated Cum Laude from Kansas State University in May 2018 where she obtained her Bachelor of Music Education with a Vocal Emphasis. During her time there she studied voice under Dr. Amy Rosine and Dr. Patricia Thompson. She was involved in Collegiate Chorale, Grand Chorus, Concert Choir, and directed the University Choir in 2017.

 During the workweek, Ms. Velasco serves as a music educator in the Shawnee Mission School District. She teaches K-6 General Music and 5th/6th grade choir. On the off chance that Ms. Velasco is not doing something music related she is probably found enjoying the outdoors with her fiancé Garrett or watching a movie while cuddling her cat Dionysus.