Dr. Kendra Preston Leonard (she/her)

@kleonardphd.bsky.social

8034 Followers 9672 Following

Librettist, lyricist, poet, scholar, teacher. Writing operas about kickass women and nb folks. Runs the Silent Film Sound & Music Archive (sfsma.org). Autistic. Disabled. Alphabetize under Leonard. kendraprestonleonard.hcommons.org

A small plastic rectangle with blue stripes and two holes drilled in it
Applications are now open for the 2026-27 Writers' Collective! The Writers' Collective is a program for artists developing texts intended for musical performance to work together in a supportive, creative community. It meets twice a month from September to May on Zoom to workshop writers' projects using Critical Response Process and learn about and discuss libretto-writing and the opera industry. Writers of all backgrounds and experience levels are welcome! Apply at https://buff.ly/eVke9Vx Applications are open July -31, 2026.
Applications are now open for the 2026-27 Writers' Collective! The Writers' Collective is a program for artists developing texts intended for musical performance to work together in a supportive, creative community. It meets twice a month from September to May on Zoom to workshop writers' projects using Critical Response Process and learn about and discuss libretto-writing and the opera industry. Writers of all backgrounds and experience levels are welcome! Apply at https://buff.ly/eVke9Vx Applications are open July -31, 2026.
APPLYING TO GUERILLA OPERA'S 2026-27 WRITERS' COLLECTIVE FAQ Do I need to be a musician? Nope! You do need to be willing & able to learn some standard music and opera terminology & become familiar with some of the opera repertoire before the Writers' Collective's first meeting in September. Do I need to have previous experience writing a libretto, lyrics, or book for musical theater? No experience necessary, although if you've already done some kind of creative writing, it'll help. Do say specifically why you want to write a libretto. Do I need to have a specific story in mind? All you need to start is a general idea or two that you think would make for a good opera, & you need to be able to explain why you think it would be a good opera (or musical, or song cycle). How does workshopping work? We use Liz Lerman's Critical Response Process, & we'll train you in using it at the first session. All writers do need to commit to participating in workshopping. What else should I know? Expect to spend 7-10 hours a week doing assignments and writing. Classes are in English but you can write in whatever language you want as long as you can provide rough translations for workshopping. We offer financial aid--you can apply for it in the application form! Questions? Email me at kpleonard@guerillaopera.org!
Applications are now open for the 2026-27 Writers' Collective! The Writers' Collective is a program for artists developing texts intended for musical performance to work together in a supportive, creative community. It meets twice a month from September to May on Zoom to workshop writers' projects using Critical Response Process and learn about and discuss libretto-writing and the opera industry. Writers of all backgrounds and experience levels are welcome! Apply at https://buff.ly/eVke9Vx Applications are open July -31, 2026.
Applications are now open for the 2026-27 Writers' Collective! The Writers' Collective is a program for artists developing texts intended for musical performance to work together in a supportive, creative community. It meets twice a month from September to May on Zoom to workshop writers' projects using Critical Response Process and learn about and discuss libretto-writing and the opera industry. Writers of all backgrounds and experience levels are welcome! Apply at https://buff.ly/eVke9Vx Applications are open July -31, 2026.
APPLYING TO GUERILLA OPERA'S 2026-27 WRITERS' COLLECTIVE FAQ Do I need to be a musician? Nope! You do need to be willing & able to learn some standard music and opera terminology & become familiar with some of the opera repertoire before the Writers' Collective's first meeting in September. Do I need to have previous experience writing a libretto, lyrics, or book for musical theater? No experience necessary, although if you've already done some kind of creative writing, it'll help. Do say specifically why you want to write a libretto. Do I need to have a specific story in mind? All you need to start is a general idea or two that you think would make for a good opera, & you need to be able to explain why you think it would be a good opera (or musical, or song cycle). How does workshopping work? We use Liz Lerman's Critical Response Process, & we'll train you in using it at the first session. All writers do need to commit to participating in workshopping. What else should I know? Expect to spend 7-10 hours a week doing assignments and writing. Classes are in English but you can write in whatever language you want as long as you can provide rough translations for workshopping. We offer financial aid--you can apply for it in the application form! Questions? Email me at kpleonard@guerillaopera.org!
Applications are now open for the 2026-27 Writers' Collective! The Writers' Collective is a program for artists developing texts intended for musical performance to work together in a supportive, creative community. It meets twice a month from September to May on Zoom to workshop writers' projects using Critical Response Process and learn about and discuss libretto-writing and the opera industry. Writers of all backgrounds and experience levels are welcome! Apply at https://buff.ly/eVke9Vx Applications are open July -31, 2026.
A large white fluffy dog reclines on a sofa that is covered with bright blue and yellow quilts
A white woman with glasses and very short cropped hair wearing a dark purple mock turtleneck with an opal necklace
APPLYING TO GUERILLA OPERA'S 2026-27 WRITERS' COLLECTIVE FAQ Do I need to be a musician? Nope! You do need to be willing & able to learn some standard music and opera terminology & become familiar with some of the opera repertoire before the Writers' Collective's first meeting in September. Do I need to have previous experience writing a libretto, lyrics, or book for musical theater? No experience necessary, although if you've already done some kind of creative writing, it'll help. Do say specifically why you want to write a libretto. Do I need to have a specific story in mind? All you need to start is a general idea or two that you think would make for a good opera, & you need to be able to explain why you think it would be a good opera (or musical, or song cycle). How does workshopping work? We use Liz Lerman's Critical Response Process, & we'll train you in using it at the first session. All writers do need to commit to participating in workshopping. What else should I know? Expect to spend 7-10 hours a week doing assignments and writing. Classes are in English but you can write in whatever language you want as long as you can provide rough translations for workshopping. We offer financial aid--you can apply for it in the application form! Questions? Email me at kpleonard@guerillaopera.org!
Applications are now open for the 2026-27 Writers' Collective! The Writers' Collective is a program for artists developing texts intended for musical performance to work together in a supportive, creative community. It meets twice a month from September to May on Zoom to workshop writers' projects using Critical Response Process and learn about and discuss libretto-writing and the opera industry. Writers of all backgrounds and experience levels are welcome! Apply at https://buff.ly/eVke9Vx Applications are open July -31, 2026.
APPLYING TO GUERILLA OPERA'S 2026-27 WRITERS' COLLECTIVE FAQ Do I need to be a musician? Nope! You do need to be willing & able to learn some standard music and opera terminology & become familiar with some of the opera repertoire before the Writers' Collective's first meeting in September. Do I need to have previous experience writing a libretto, lyrics, or book for musical theater? No experience necessary, although if you've already done some kind of creative writing, it'll help. Do say specifically why you want to write a libretto. Do I need to have a specific story in mind? All you need to start is a general idea or two that you think would make for a good opera, & you need to be able to explain why you think it would be a good opera (or musical, or song cycle). How does workshopping work? We use Liz Lerman's Critical Response Process, & we'll train you in using it at the first session. All writers do need to commit to participating in workshopping. What else should I know? Expect to spend 7-10 hours a week doing assignments and writing. Classes are in English but you can write in whatever language you want as long as you can provide rough translations for workshopping. We offer financial aid--you can apply for it in the application form! Questions? Email me at kpleonard@guerillaopera.org!
Applications are now open for the 2026-27 Writers' Collective! The Writers' Collective is a program for artists developing texts intended for musical performance to work together in a supportive, creative community. It meets twice a month from September to May on Zoom to workshop writers' projects using Critical Response Process and learn about and discuss libretto-writing and the opera industry. Writers of all backgrounds and experience levels are welcome! Apply at https://buff.ly/eVke9Vx Applications are open July -31, 2026.
APPLYING TO GUERILLA OPERA'S 2026-27 WRITERS' COLLECTIVE FAQ Do I need to be a musician? Nope! You do need to be willing & able to learn some standard music and opera terminology & become familiar with some of the opera repertoire before the Writers' Collective's first meeting in September. Do I need to have previous experience writing a libretto, lyrics, or book for musical theater? No experience necessary, although if you've already done some kind of creative writing, it'll help. Do say specifically why you want to write a libretto. Do I need to have a specific story in mind? All you need to start is a general idea or two that you think would make for a good opera, & you need to be able to explain why you think it would be a good opera (or musical, or song cycle). How does workshopping work? We use Liz Lerman's Critical Response Process, & we'll train you in using it at the first session. All writers do need to commit to participating in workshopping. What else should I know? Expect to spend 7-10 hours a week doing assignments and writing. Classes are in English but you can write in whatever language you want as long as you can provide rough translations for workshopping. We offer financial aid--you can apply for it in the application form! Questions? Email me at kpleonard@guerillaopera.org!
Applications are now open for the 2026-27 Writers' Collective! The Writers' Collective is a program for artists developing texts intended for musical performance to work together in a supportive, creative community. It meets twice a month from September to May on Zoom to workshop writers' projects using Critical Response Process and learn about and discuss libretto-writing and the opera industry. Writers of all backgrounds and experience levels are welcome! Apply at https://buff.ly/eVke9Vx Applications are open July -31, 2026.
The cover of the book songs and lessons for the beginning singer. It shows a dark haired girl and a green shirt on a white background, and the titles are in white against an aqua background.
Applications are now open for the 2026-27 Writers' Collective! The Writers' Collective is a program for artists developing texts intended for musical performance to work together in a supportive, creative community. It meets twice a month from September to May on Zoom to workshop writers' projects using Critical Response Process and learn about and discuss libretto-writing and the opera industry. Writers of all backgrounds and experience levels are welcome! Apply at https://buff.ly/eVke9Vx Applications are open July -31, 2026.
Applications are now open for the 2026-27 Writers' Collective! The Writers' Collective is a program for artists developing texts intended for musical performance to work together in a supportive, creative community. It meets twice a month from September to May on Zoom to workshop writers' projects using Critical Response Process and learn about and discuss libretto-writing and the opera industry. Writers of all backgrounds and experience levels are welcome! Apply at https://buff.ly/eVke9Vx Applications are open July -31, 2026.
APPLYING TO GUERILLA OPERA'S 2026-27 WRITERS' COLLECTIVE FAQ Do I need to be a musician? Nope! You do need to be willing & able to learn some standard music and opera terminology & become familiar with some of the opera repertoire before the Writers' Collective's first meeting in September. Do I need to have previous experience writing a libretto, lyrics, or book for musical theater? No experience necessary, although if you've already done some kind of creative writing, it'll help. Do say specifically why you want to write a libretto. Do I need to have a specific story in mind? All you need to start is a general idea or two that you think would make for a good opera, & you need to be able to explain why you think it would be a good opera (or musical, or song cycle). How does workshopping work? We use Liz Lerman's Critical Response Process, & we'll train you in using it at the first session. All writers do need to commit to participating in workshopping. What else should I know? Expect to spend 7-10 hours a week doing assignments and writing. Classes are in English but you can write in whatever language you want as long as you can provide rough translations for workshopping. We offer financial aid--you can apply for it in the application form! Questions? Email me at kpleonard@guerillaopera.org!
A very happy, very wet, black dog with a grey muzzle and eyebrows holding a brown plastic bone in his mouth.
Applications are now open for the 2026-27 Writers' Collective! The Writers' Collective is a program for artists developing texts intended for musical performance to work together in a supportive, creative community. It meets twice a month from September to May on Zoom to workshop writers' projects using Critical Response Process and learn about and discuss libretto-writing and the opera industry. Writers of all backgrounds and experience levels are welcome! Apply at https://buff.ly/eVke9Vx Applications are open July -31, 2026.
The cover of PROTECTRESS, showing a filigreed, gold and green snake-headed helmet on a black background with the text "PROTECTRESS Kendra Preston Leonard" across the bottom in gold.
An ensemble in a concert space. The floor is light wood and the walls are a deep pink. Everyone is wearing black. The performers are Weng Yu, voice; Darcy Gilkerson, cello; Andrej Kos, accordion; Georgiana Grecu, piano; Jonas Evenstad, percussion; and Niki Zohdi, conductor! @angelasmusic @institut.abeceda
Do I need to be a musician? Nope! You do need to be willing & able to learn some standard music and opera terminology & become familiar with some of the opera repertoire before the Writers' Collective's first meeting in September. Do I need to have previous experience writing a libretto, lyrics, or book for musical theater? No experience necessary, although if you’ve already done some kind of creative writing, it’ll help. Do say specifically why you want to write a libretto. Do I need to have a specific story in mind? All you need to start is a general idea or two that you think would make for a good opera, & you need to be able to explain why you think it would be a good opera (or musical, or song cycle). How does workshopping work? We use Liz Lerman’s Critical Response Process, & we’ll train you in using it at the first session. All writers do need to commit to participating in workshopping. What else should I know? Expect to spend 7-10 hours a week doing assignments and writing. Classes are in English but you can write in whatever language you want as long as you can provide rough translations for workshopping. We do offer financial aid--you can apply for it in the application form! Feel free to email me with any questions or concerns at kpleonard@guerillaopera.org--I am always happy to help!
Do I need to be a musician? Nope! You do need to be willing & able to learn some standard music and opera terminology & become familiar with some of the opera repertoire before the Writers' Collective's first meeting in September. Do I need to have previous experience writing a libretto, lyrics, or book for musical theater? No experience necessary, although if you’ve already done some kind of creative writing, it’ll help. Do say specifically why you want to write a libretto. Do I need to have a specific story in mind? All you need to start is a general idea or two that you think would make for a good opera, & you need to be able to explain why you think it would be a good opera (or musical, or song cycle). How does workshopping work? We use Liz Lerman’s Critical Response Process, & we’ll train you in using it at the first session. All writers do need to commit to participating in workshopping. What else should I know? Expect to spend 7-10 hours a week doing assignments and writing. Classes are in English but you can write in whatever language you want as long as you can provide rough translations for workshopping. We do offer financial aid--you can apply for it in the application form! Feel free to email me with any questions or concerns at kpleonard@guerillaopera.org--I am always happy to help!
A black dog with a white muzzle and floppy ears and a white streak on his chest sits on a red dug in front of a sofa covered with an range quilt. He is ready to play.
A white dog with big mud streaks on her face.
View from today: my backyard and patio. In the background, purple Mexican petunias are blooming. They bloom every morning and fall off every afternoon. In the foreground, a red-pink hibiscus blooms. On a wrought-iron table, basil, sage, and two cactus are in full leaf. One cactus has pink flowers.
A large, floofy white dog reclines on her back on a brown sofa, her legs splayed out and pink tummy on display to the entire world. She has a goofy look on her face.
A pair of yellow plastic and malachite earrings a pair of holographic plastic earrings; and a green, yellow, and red bead on string
Menu reading Ensalada de Flor de Calabaza squash blossoms, purslane, Heirloom tomato, requeson, lemon vinaigrette dressing 22 Quesadilla de Flor de Calabaza quesadilla stuffed with squash blossoms, epazote and Oaxacan cheese, tomatillo sauce 14 Enchiladas de Flor de Calabaza sautéed vegetables, squash blossoms, mole amarillo, cheese, refritos, rice 22 Tlayuda de Flor de Calabaza large, crispy Oaxacan tortilla, grilled vegetables, squash blossoms, refritos, mole amarillo, Oaxacan cheese 24
Black and red text on a rosy white background, reading: THE CASCADE BOOKSELLERS ASSOCIATION PRESENTS 20TH ANNUAL ROSE CITY BOOK & PAPER FAIR THANK YOU FOR 20 GREAT YEARS. JUNE 13-14, 2026 1000 NE MULTNOMAH• PORTLAND, ORE
A mostly white dog with mud all over her right hind lag and haunches from sleeping in mud puddles all day.
Text copied from image FLACSO MEXICO La Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales, sede México lamenta profundamente el sensible fallecimiento del Dr. Raúl Pacheco-Vega entrañable profesor-investigador, colega, amigo y miembro muy querido de El Dr. Pacheco-Vega fue profesor-investigador de la FLACSO México, adscrito al Laboratorio de Métodos. Su trayectoria académica se distinguió por sus aportes al estudio de los métodos mixtos, las políticas públicas y las políticas ambientales, con especial atención a temas como la gobernanza del agua, el cambio climático y las poblaciones vulnerables. La FLACSO México reconoce con gratitud su legado académico, su generosidad intelectual y la huella que deja en quienes compartieron con él espacios de trabajo, aprendizaje y amistad. Expresamos nuestras más sentidas condolencias a sus familiares, amistades, colegas, estudiantado y a las comunidades académicas de las que formó parte. Descanse en paz. nuestra comunidad académica. Ciudad de México, a 1 de junio de 2026
Ursa, an all-black Newfoundland dog, snoozes in a bathtub. Her chin is restin on the white tub edge, and the tile behind her is pink.
4 Policy goes far beyond disqualifying persons currently or recently suffering from gender dysphoria. Some of those disqualifications are completely unexplained and have no reasonable justification. The sharp contrast to the Mattis Policy, adopted in the first Trump Administration, which allowed servicemembers who were transgender or who had suffered from gender dysphoria to remain in the military, appears to be driven by the bare desire to harm a politically unpopular group: persons who identify as transgender. As such, at this preliminary stage, I conclude that the Hegseth Policy is both arbitrary and based upon animus, and for those reasons the Policy violates Plaintiff-Appellees' constitutional right to equal protection of the law.
Wisp, a floofy Great Pyrenees dog, rests her head on the arm of a sofa and looks up at the camera.
A fluffy, white dog, seen from the rear, where she is covered in mud all over her hoes and back legs
A black dog with a white muzzle blinks at the camera. He’s lying on a yellow kantha quilt.
A fluffy white dog with her hair cut short around her ears looks at the camera
Wisp, a floofy white dog with a smile on her face, and Noodles, a black dog with a white muzzle and chest and toes with an imploring look, gaze up at the camera in search of cuddles, treats, play, or all three. Wisp is seated on a tile floor and Noodles is next to her on a wood floor with a geometrically-patterned rug in reads and yellows.
A black-and-white tattoo of a hand holding a sword coming out of ripples of water, with a red rose on the left-hand side
White letters on a red background read "Given enough Coke [the drink] I could rule the world"
A triangular college pennant in green and blue for the fictional Smythecliffe College for Women, est. 1893, where Common Room takes place. I picked 1893 because that's the year the Yaddo mansion was completed.
A triangular college-style pennant with a green background and blue lettering and trim reads "Smythecliffe est. 1893". COMMON ROOM takes place at the fictional Smythecliffe College for Women, and I've chosen 1893 because that's when Yaddo was built.
In a photo shot from inside my studio through a window, there’s a big turkey strutting past. In the background are trees and a pond. The turkey was speeding up, so it’s a little blurry.
This is why we call them cheeks. A chipmunk with both mouth pouches completely full of nuts. Photo credit Skyler Ewing via Unsplash.
A card with a photo of a dog at the bottom right. At the top, it reads "Noodles & Wisp, Lil Camper Report." A section reads "Today I was Playful (marked with a N), Charming, Observant (marked with a W)(she's an LGD, what do you expect?), Devilish, Cuddly (marked with both N and W), Mischievous, Chill (marked with a W), Enthusiastic, and Spirited (marked with an N)." Under "Best Thing Ever at Day Camp Was: Toys, Pool, Jungle Gym, Friends (marked with a star), My chaperone (star), Tag, Hide and Seek, and Taking it easy (star)." It them says: "My Best Friends Were: calmer dogs, each other, & the staff." "My Chaperone says: These two are a joy to have--Noodles had a blast chomping at the hose & Wisp liked to chase Noodles. Come back soon!" Wisp chases Noodles because she thinks he isn't doing his job and being observant like her. She's always trying to boss him into being a better Livestock Guardian Dog, but although he's part Pyr, he's also part Lab (the hose), and a bunch of other things.
A brown wooden cabin with a sloping roof nestled among trees in the woods
A selfie taken in a mirror shows a white woman wearing glasses, a pink head wrap, and a grey top. In the background is her messy office.
A big floofy white dog with her tongue hanging out sideways sits on a chaise covered with an orange blanket. She has all of the pillows stacked up on her back.