About
Leah Bell is an Australian soprano currently completing her Master of Music Studies (Opera Performance) at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, under the esteemed Maree Ryan AM. She recently completed her Bachelor of Music Performance (Classical Voice) at the same institution.
During her studies, Leah has been the recipient of several prestigious scholarships, including the Kevin and Margaret Duffy Scholarship, Bud Brown Memorial Award, PATIM Music Fund Award, Patricia Long Music Scholarship, Greenburg-Gurney Jenson Fund Award, and the Peter Davidson Music Scholarship. Prior to her formal tertiary education, she was recognised for her musical excellence with ENCORE nominations in both Music 2 and Extension, and was awarded the Zonta International Women’s Day Award for Performing Arts.
Leah’s recent performance highlights reflect her growing reputation as a dynamic and expressive performer. She has appeared in the Sydney Opera Society Aria Concert, SCM Opera Scenes Concert, SCM Lunchbreak Concert Series, Art Song Concert, Con Lieder Series, Opera’s Heroes and Villains, Croydon Crescendo Concert Series, and Liederfest. She has also featured in ensemble performances such as the Whitacre and Hindson Wind Symphony concert and Haydn’s Nelson Mass with the Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra.
Her operatic credits include a role in Don Giovanni with Concordia Ensemble, and her portrayal of Mrs Waa in Parrwang Lifts the Sky, an all-Australian opera by Deborah Cheetham Fraillon AO. She is currently preparing for the role of Morphée in Jacques Offenbach’s Orphée aux enfers, a 2025 collaboration between NIDA and the Sydney Conservatorium.
In addition to opera, Leah has experience in musical theatre, performing dual roles (Mrs Hatch and Violet) in the stage adaptation of It’s a Wonderful Life, taking on the title role in the original musical Take a Bite, and appearing in the delightfully zany Little Shop of Horrors.
Passionate about making classical music more accessible to younger audiences, Leah recently co-developed and performed in Storia Di Melodie—a touring schools program designed to bring opera to life in a playful and engaging way. The project was met with enthusiastic praise from educators and parents for its creativity, inclusiveness, and educational value.
Leah continues to develop her craft through masterclasses with leading musicians and coaches, including Dr Francis Greep, Catriona Morrison, Professor Michael Halliwell, Brian Castles-Onion, Stephen Layton, and Graham Johnson OBE. These experiences have been instrumental in shaping her vocal technique, musical interpretation, and artistic identity.
early beginnings…
Leah grew up on the east coast of New South Wales, surrounded by the natural beauty of Australia’s oceans and forests. Her childhood was shaped by a spirit of adventure, inspired by her parents’ love of exploration and scuba diving. Yet within these wild and expansive landscapes, Leah discovered a different kind of calling—one rooted in storytelling, music, and the performing arts.
A dedicated performer from a young age, she participated in local plays, musicals, concerts, and eisteddfods. She began piano lessons at the age of five, added classical singing at eleven, and by thirteen had expanded her training to include guitar and drama. These early experiences ignited a deep and lasting passion for artistic expression, laying the foundation for her journey into opera.
Following the completion of her Master of Music (Opera Performance), Leah plans to pursue further study overseas as she continues to develop her craft and work toward a professional operatic career.
