We caught up with our new Upper School Choir Director and one of our new Music Studio teachers, Mrs. Leslie Camara, in order to help the community learn more about her.
1) Are you married? Kids?
I’ve been married to my best friend for 37 years and I have 10 children. Yes, they are all ours. No twins, no adoptions. My oldest is 36, and my youngest is 17. I also have 5 grandchildren!
2) Where did you go to school?
I attended the State University of New York at Purchase studying Piano Performance. The most exciting part of college was driving in to Manhattan (“The City”, as we call it in NY!) for 4 years to study privately with Daniel Epstein of the Raphael Trio.
3) What gets you up in the morning?
There are 2 things I think of immediately upon waking each morning: my Bible and my coffee. Then I try to remind myself before I even get out of bed, “Today, I have the great privilege of being about my Father’s business!”
4) What are your favorite hobbies?
My favorite hobby is quilting. For the past 3 years it has become an addiction; on any given evening I’m usually found with a quilters hoop and a needle in my hand. My great grandmother was a seamstress (think 1890’s!) and my grandmother told me sewing is in our blood.
5) What is your favorite book and why?
My favorite nonfiction book is The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs written in 1648. I’ve reread my favorite parts of it countless times; truly it has shaped my walk with God like none other besides the Bible. My favorite fiction books were The Number One Ladies’ Detective Agency which take place in Botswana, Africa. I read them when my youngest was a baby and besides being very entertaining they helped me understand my mother-in-law better who is from Rwanda.
7) How long have you lived in Indiana and why do you enjoy living here?
I’ve lived in Indy for 30 years but grew up in New York. Raising a family in Indiana is much easier than NY. In NY traffic is a nightmare you rarely get out of, everything costs money (I always say you have to pay to breathe in New York City!) and people are not as friendly. They also all walk very fast. That’s one thing I haven’t changed; you may see me running to and from my car because I always think, “Why walk, when I can run and get there faster?”
8) What historical figure would you like to spend a day with?
I’d love to spend a day with Jesus, but as for someone who is not God, I’d love to spend a day with J.S. Bach, in his home! He had 20 children although only 6 survived to adulthood. I’d love to watch him compose!
9) What would we be surprised to learn about you?
I can’t think of anything people would be surprised to know about me; I find myself to be rather unremarkable. I do think there is something strange about me though; I was obsessed with music theory in college. I exhausted every music theory class my school offered and invented my own for which I was privately tutored. “Advanced Modal Counterpoint!” I’d say in that sense I’m slightly odd!
