Lea A. Gilmore

It has been said "Lea Gilmore's rich and passionate voice is a gift from her soul to our ears." Known for her quick smile, sly sense of humor and energetic performances, Lea is a skilled and sought after singer, lecturer and performer. She has appeared in over 45 musical and dramatic theater productions, including starring roles in 'Ain't Misbehavin'', 'Dream Girls', 'Purlie' and much more; toured with the Common Ground Gospel Choir in Vienna, Austria as a soloist; toured Holland, Belgium and Scotland as a singer and lecturer and is currently performing 'A Tribute to Mahalia Jackson' with noted pianist Eric Byrd at music festivals and cultural centers around US.

She has sold out concerts worldwide. In the summer of 200, Lea returned to Belgium to record a live gospel CD ("Gospels for Damien - Let Your Light Shine"). With a sold out first run, the CD's proceeds support the work of The Father Damien Foundation, a nonprofit organization that assist victims of leprosy and TB in several third world countries. Lea most recently traveled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Africa) to give a gospel concert and meet with school children in Kinshasa, as well as visit the Damien Foundation's hospitals.

Lea also writes and lectures extensively on the history of African American music, African American history, civil and human rights, women's rights, as well as their historical and contemporary roles in blues and gospel music.

A graduate of Morgan State University with a degree in political science and a member of the Pi Gamma Mu International Honor Society for the Social Sciences, Lea is staunchly committed to human and civil rights.

Lea is a member of the Board of Directors of Common Ground on the Hill, The Blues Foundation and a contributing writer for the soon to be released Routeledge Encyclopedia of the Blues. The former Deputy Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of MD, Ms. Gilmore has been appointed by the United States Commission on Civil Rights to serve as a member of the Maryland State Advisory Board. Lea lives in Baltimore with her husband David and their two sons Jonathan and Gabriel.

Classes Lea Teaches:

"Beltin' Boppin' and Blues - Women in the Blues A survey course on the historical and contemporary contributions of women in blues music. Also included blues singing technique.

"Seeking Our Common Ground" A dialogue exploring the importance of healing racial and cultural divides, particularly by using music.

"Exploring Your Voice" Instructing how to "think outside the box" and expand the singing voice through theory and performance.

"The Roots of African American Music" A survey course where students sing and learn the history of Negro spirituals, field hollers, Blues, Jazz and Gospel.

"How to Sing the Blues" A class teaching blues sing vocal technique. Negro Spirituals Ensemble Leading a group of vocalists in singing and interpreting the African American Spiritual Lecture/Concert:

"My Soul Looks Back and Wonders How I Got Over" A lecture/concert on the history and power of African American sacred and secular music. The lecture touches on themes of social equality, peace and justice, tolerance; and also, explores the music of Slavery (Sprituals and Field Hollers), The Civil Rights Movement (Freedom Songs) and much more.

One Woman Shows/Concerts:

"What A Difference A Day Makes" A spectacular cabaret celebrating the music of Dinah Washington.

"Move on Up A Little Higher" A celebration of the music of Mahalia Jackson

General Lectures

"The State of Reproductive Healthcare in the African American Community," Congressional Briefing, May 2003 ¨
"Beltin, Boppin' and Blue - Women and the Blues", Univ. of MS, Living Blues Symposium, 2003 ¨
"We All Are America", Keynote Address for U.S. Naturalization Ceremony, Sept. 2002
"African American Music History", Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sept. 2002 ¨
"If Not You, Who? Taking Personal the Fight for Justice", Frederick County Human Relations Commission, Keynote Address, May, 2002 ¨
"Peace and Multicultural Explorations", University of Rhode Island, "Diversity Week", September, 2001 ¨
"The Roots of African American Music," Swannanoa Gathering, Asheville, NC July 2001 ¨
"Exploring Your Voice!", Common Ground on the Hill, June 2001
"My Soul Looks Back and Wonder How I Got Over," Belgium, November 2000
"Seeking Our Common Ground", Common Ground on the Hill, July 2000 ¨
"Church, Religion and Racism, Carroll County Maryland, April 2000 ¨
"Freedom of Artistic Expression," Baltimore Museum of Art, March 2000 ¨
"You've Come A Long Way Baby", Women and Music, The Blues Foundation, Memphis, TN., May 1999 ¨
"Celebrating Our Common Ground and Dancing with Diversity (keynote address)," Carroll County Human Relations Commission Dinner, March 1999
¨Women's Rights as Civil Rights (keynote address with Lt. Governor of MD Kathleen Kennedy Townsend), UMBC Women's Center Kick-off for Women's History Month, March 1999 ¨
"Confronting Racism and Ourselves," Carroll County Youth Services, February 1999 ¨ Celebrating 50 years of the Declaration of Human Rights, Belgium 199
¨Celebrating our Common Ground and Diversity, Belgium 1998¨ The Changing Demographic of Blues, Blues 2000 Festival, September 1998
¨Malcolm, Martin and Means: Their Dreams and Nightmares, June 1998, Common Ground on the Hill, Western Maryland College w/ Professor Rosemary Moxey
Women and Racism, Virginia Women's Music Festival, May, 1998
"No Black, No White, Just Blues", (The Blues Foundation) Memphis, TN, May 1998 ¨
Race and Tolerance (w/ Dr. Ira Zepp), Western Maryland College, Maryland, February 1998
¨ Human Rights and Racial Tolerance , College of Sittard, The Netherlands, November 1997
¨Racial Dialogue: The Resemblance Between American Racism and European anti-Semitism, Heerlen, The Netherlands, November 1997
History of Spirituals, Gospel and Songs of the American Civil Rights Movement Heerlen, The Netherlands, November, 1997 ¨