H. Leslie Adams

Harrison Leslie Adams Jr. (December 30, 1932 – May 24, 2024) was an American composer. His works have been performed by the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, Iceland Symphony Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, and Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, and commissioned by the Cleveland Orchestra, Ohio Chamber Orchestra, Cleveland Chamber Symphony, and the Center for Black Music Research, among others. Metropolitan Opera artists have performed his vocal works internationally. He has also received composition awards from the National Association of Negro Women and the Christian Arts National Competition for Choral Music. Adams is best known for writing music for voice (including choral music, art songs, vocal solos, and music drama) but has also written numerous purely instrumental compositions. Adams's music is composed largely within the tradition of Western classical music and also incorporates elements unique to African-American music.