About me
I’m Hillary Leben, a video artist and projection designer specializing in visual content for classical music, opera, and ballet. My work is known for its emotional depth, musical sensitivity, and deep respect for the artform it supports.
I’ve created original animated content for major institutions around the world, including the San Francisco Symphony, Orchestre de Paris, London Philharmonia, and Chicago Symphony Orchestra. I've had the honor of collaborating with renowned artists such as Esa-Pekka Salonen, Yo-Yo Ma, Gerard McBurney, Dmitri Yanov-Yanovsky, and Pierre Boulez.
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I design imagery that serves the music—intensifying emotional response, revealing narrative, and drawing audiences closer to the sound. My process is rigorous, research-based, and tailored to each piece and performance space. Whether working with full orchestras or chamber ensembles, I bring 15+ years of experience in animation, storytelling, and live event projection to every project.​
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
2024 - Stravinsky's Firebird
San Diego Symphony, conducted by Jeremy Denk
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2024 - Stravinsky's Les Noces
Orchestre de Paris, conducted by Esa Pekka Solonen
San Francisco Symphony, conducted by Esa Pekka Solonen
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2023 - The Creatures of Prometheus
Beethoven Orchestra, Bonn, Germany​​
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2021 - The Creatures of Prometheus
Narrated by Keith David and Conducted by Esa Pekka Solonen
San Francisco Symphony​
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2020 - The Creatures of Prometheus
Narrated by Stephen Fry and Conducted by Esa Pekka Salonen
London Philharmonia
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2019 - Handel's Messiah
The Handel and Hadyn Society​​
2017 - A Midsummer Night's Dream at Tanglewood - Incidental music by Mendelssohn
Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood conducted by Andris Nelsons and directed by Bill Barclay
2017 - Grounded
Milwaukee Repertory Theater - Directed by Laura Braza
2016 - A Midsummer Night's Dream - Incidental music by Mendelssohn
Boston Symphony Orchestra conducted by Andris Nelsons and directed by Bill Barclay
2015 - Beyond The Score - Ravel: A Portrait - A multimedia look at Maurice Ravel's life and music
Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Ludovic Morlot
2015 - The Property - A World Premier Klezmer Opera written by Vlad Marhulets, based on a graphic novel by Rutu Modan
The Lyric Opera of Chicago - Lyric Unlimited Series, Directed by Eric Einhorn
2014 - Beyond The Score - Brahms - A multimedia look at Brahm's 3rd Symphony
Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Edo de Waart
2013 - Beyond The Score - Scheherazade - A multimedia look at Rimsky's Korsakov's Scheherazade
Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Mei-Ann Chen
2012 - Beyond The Score - Rite of Spring - A multimedia look at Stravinsky's Rite of Spring
Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Charles Dutoit
2012 - Sacred Signs performed by Yo Yo Ma - CPA's Rite of Spring at 100 Festival at University of North Carolina - A new work by Dmitri Yanov-Yanovsky written to be performed by the Silk Road Ensemble
2012 - Beyond The Score - Sounds Strange? A multimedia look at Shoenberg's Pierrot Lunaire
Imagery and animated subtitles - Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Cristian Macelaru, with Pierre Boulez
2011 - HE/SHE - A double bill combining Schumann's Frauenliebe un -Leben, and Janacek's Diary of the One Who Disappeared. Moving imagery and animated subtitles. Chicago Opera Theater - Harris Theater, 60 minutes
2011 - Beyond The Score - What Secret? A multimedia look at Elgar's Enigma Variations
Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Charles Dutoit - 60 minutes
2011 - Beyond The Score - Pure Propaganda? A multimedia look at Prokofiev's Symphony No. 5
Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Mark Elder - 60 minutes
2010 - Beyond The Score - Why Italy? A multimedia look at Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 4 (Italian)
Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Antonio Pappano - 60 minutes
2010 - Beyond The Score - Making Waves? A multimedia look at Debussy's La Mer
Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Ludovic Morlot - 60 minutes
2009 - Beyond The Score - Rite of Passage? A multimedia look at Rachmaninoff's Isle of the Dead
Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Vladimir Jurowski - 90 minutes
2009 - Beyond The Score - Heaven or Earth? A multimedia look at Mahler's Symphony No. 4
Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Markus Stenz - 60 minutes
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Contact me:
hleben@gmail.com