Leilane Grimaldi Mehler was born and raised in São Paulo, Brazil. There she met her future American husband, Barry Mehler, a regional tax partner for Ernst &Young. They moved to Falls Church, Virginia in 1981.
Leilane was a fashion model from the age of 14-22 while pursing a degree from Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo, Brazil, in Portuguese Language, Literature, and Linguistics; and a minor in Education. She is a former Interactive Multimedia Instructional Designer for the Federal Language Training Laboratory – US Government.
An avid traveler and arts lover, Leilane has been very active in the community. She is a member of the Virginia Opera – Northern Virginia Board of Governors and President of their Guild “The Bravissimo Society”. She is a member since 1992 and the Immediate Past President of Welcome to Washington International Club, Inc.; Past President and member of the Women’s Committee of the Washington Ballet, Chapter II Past President of the Capital Speakers Club where she has been serving in various boards and committees; Past Chairman of the Board of The Summer Opera Theater Company; Past Board Member of the Virginia Chamber Orchestra; a Member of the Women’s Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts; a Past Board Member of the Board of Visitors of the University of Maryland School of Music; and past Vice-President for Latin America of the Alianza-Ibero Americana
Aside from the Arts, Leilane is very involved in community services. She is a Regional Board Member DC /MD and former members of National Educational Committee of the Anti Defamation League; a member of the Salvation Army Auxiliary where she has served as Past Member of the Finance Committee, and Past Protocol Chairman.
Friendship with no frontiers is her motto. Verdi is her hero.
Mirian Silva Bravissimo's IT and Social Media Specialist. Virginia Opera’s Bravissimo Society is a dynamic organization of volunteers from the DC area who promote interest in and educate the community about opera, support Virginia Opera (VO) productions, and encourage and assist the career and educational development of talented young artists through different programs including Musicales and the Vocal Award Competition.