Leah Podzimek is a versatile performer, producer, and administrator currently based in the Greater Midwest. She is a sought-after lyric soprano nationwide and is the core vocalist of the Rocky Mountain Region's premiere new music group, The Playground Ensemble. Her performances range from grand operas and musicals to world-premiere chamber works, and she produces and performs in interactive and immersive performances through her creative business, Luster Productions. Leah currently studies with Dramatic Soprano Alexandra LoBianco.
In celebration of its 20th season, The Playground is planning a 20-hour MARATHON! This event will be broken into four blocks, each at a new location, and will highlight all that we do as an ensemble and organization: concerts, community music-making, sessions for music educators, healing arts events and an improvised communal cool down in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Leah will perform a contemporary art song recital with pianist Joshua Sawicki, featuring works by Heggie, Saariaho, Berg, and a premiere by composer Jerod Tate.
Libretto by Alan Olejniczak, based on the book by Judith Schalansky. Premiered May 5 & 6, 2023 at MCA Denver at the Holiday Theater, Denver, CO.
Atlas of Remote Islands is a contemporary story of self-discovery through armchair travel on the pages of a mysterious book. This book is an atlas of fifty real, remote islands, stuffed with maps and prose-poem stories, more for the imagination than for navigation and offering more questions than answers. The audience experiences the histories and facts, lore and fantasies of these islands through the eyes of this main character—who in exploring distant worlds through the pages of the atlas unlocks worlds within themself.
Soprano Leah Podzimek is a versatile performer, producer, and administrator currently based in the Greater Midwest. After spending a decade in Colorado, she performs regularly throughout the Rocky Mountain Region and the broader United States. She has been seen on stages worldwide as both a soloist and a member of internationally recognized ensembles, including the Wartburg Choir and Playground Ensemble. Performances range from baroque concerts and grand operas to world-premiere chamber works and immersive, interactive productions.
Hailed as “opulent and rich”, Ms. Podzimek’s recent roles include Liù (Turandot) with St. Petersburg Opera, Rosita/Fulang (Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Girl in the World) with Central City Opera, Mrs. Gleaton (Susannah) and Second Lady (The Magic Flute) with Opera Fort Collins, Princess Dora (The Three Feathers) with Opera Steamboat, and Voice 1 in the world premiere of composer Nathan Hall’s new opera, Atlas of Remote Islands. She looks forward to returning to St. Petersburg Opera during the 2024/25 season to perform the role of Mrs. Segstrom in A Little Night Music and cover the role of Micaëla in Carmen.
Ms. Podzimek is the core vocalist of the Denver-based premiere new music group, The Playground Ensemble, with whom she regularly performs contemporary chamber works, including the November 2024 concert “Body/Mind” featuring pieces by Paola Prestini, Kate Soper, and Leaha Maria Villarreal. To learn more about The Playground, visit www.playgroundensemble.org.
Ms. Podzimek also produces and performs in interactive and immersive performances through her creative business, Luster Productions. Previous productions include Missed Connection: A musical mystery adventure in September 2023 and installments of INTERPLAY: Art + Opera in cities nationwide. Please reach out if you would like to bring INTERPLAY to your city!
Ms. Podzimek received her Bachelor of Music degree in Voice Performance from Wartburg College, and her Master of Art in Arts Administration & Cultural Policy at Goldsmiths, University of London. While abroad she performed and covered roles with OperaGold (Tytania/A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Giornata Opera (Suor Osmina/Suor Angelica), and Park Opera (Chloë/The Queen of Spades). She has received scholarships to attend and perform at the Aldeburgh Festival, Dartington International Summer School for Music, Abingdon School for Solo Singers, OperaWorks in Los Angeles, and received third place and the Myrle F. Hoffman Memorial Award at the 2018 Denver Lyric Opera Guild Competition. She was recently the sole Vocal Fellow at the 2023 Summer Institute for Contemporary Performance Practice, where she premiered a new piece by Jacob Lane and performed works by Cage, Epstein, and more, and was a finalist in the 2024 John Alexander National Vocal Competition with Opera Mississippi, 2025 Opera Ithaca Edward M. Murray International Competition of Voice, and a semifinalist in the 2025 James Toland Vocal Competition.
Leah currently studies with Dramatic Soprano Alexandra LoBianco.
Leah Podzimek is a versatile performer, producer, and administrator currently based in the Greater Midwest. She is a sought-after lyric soprano nationwide and is the core vocalist of the Rocky Mountain Region's premiere new music group, The Playground Ensemble. Her performances range from grand operas and musicals to world-premiere chamber works, and she produces and performs in interactive and immersive performances through her creative business, Luster Productions. Leah currently studies with Dramatic Soprano Alexandra LoBianco.
In celebration of its 20th season, The Playground is planning a 20-hour MARATHON! This event will be broken into four blocks, each at a new location, and will highlight all that we do as an ensemble and organization: concerts, community music-making, sessions for music educators, healing arts events and an improvised communal cool down in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Leah will perform a contemporary art song recital with pianist Joshua Sawicki, featuring works by Heggie, Saariaho, Berg, and a premiere by composer Jerod Tate.
Libretto by Alan Olejniczak, based on the book by Judith Schalansky. Premiered May 5 & 6, 2023 at MCA Denver at the Holiday Theater, Denver, CO.
Atlas of Remote Islands is a contemporary story of self-discovery through armchair travel on the pages of a mysterious book. This book is an atlas of fifty real, remote islands, stuffed with maps and prose-poem stories, more for the imagination than for navigation and offering more questions than answers. The audience experiences the histories and facts, lore and fantasies of these islands through the eyes of this main character—who in exploring distant worlds through the pages of the atlas unlocks worlds within themself.
Soprano Leah Podzimek is a versatile performer, producer, and administrator currently based in the Greater Midwest. After spending a decade in Colorado, she performs regularly throughout the Rocky Mountain Region and the broader United States. She has been seen on stages worldwide as both a soloist and a member of internationally recognized ensembles, including the Wartburg Choir and Playground Ensemble. Performances range from baroque concerts and grand operas to world-premiere chamber works and immersive, interactive productions.
Hailed as “opulent and rich”, Ms. Podzimek’s recent roles include Liù (Turandot) with St. Petersburg Opera, Rosita/Fulang (Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Girl in the World) with Central City Opera, Mrs. Gleaton (Susannah) and Second Lady (The Magic Flute) with Opera Fort Collins, Princess Dora (The Three Feathers) with Opera Steamboat, and Voice 1 in the world premiere of composer Nathan Hall’s new opera, Atlas of Remote Islands. She looks forward to returning to St. Petersburg Opera during the 2024/25 season to perform the role of Mrs. Segstrom in A Little Night Music and cover the role of Micaëla in Carmen.
Ms. Podzimek is the core vocalist of the Denver-based premiere new music group, The Playground Ensemble, with whom she regularly performs contemporary chamber works, including the November 2024 concert “Body/Mind” featuring pieces by Paola Prestini, Kate Soper, and Leaha Maria Villarreal. To learn more about The Playground, visit www.playgroundensemble.org.
Ms. Podzimek also produces and performs in interactive and immersive performances through her creative business, Luster Productions. Previous productions include Missed Connection: A musical mystery adventure in September 2023 and installments of INTERPLAY: Art + Opera in cities nationwide. Please reach out if you would like to bring INTERPLAY to your city!
Ms. Podzimek received her Bachelor of Music degree in Voice Performance from Wartburg College, and her Master of Art in Arts Administration & Cultural Policy at Goldsmiths, University of London. While abroad she performed and covered roles with OperaGold (Tytania/A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Giornata Opera (Suor Osmina/Suor Angelica), and Park Opera (Chloë/The Queen of Spades). She has received scholarships to attend and perform at the Aldeburgh Festival, Dartington International Summer School for Music, Abingdon School for Solo Singers, OperaWorks in Los Angeles, and received third place and the Myrle F. Hoffman Memorial Award at the 2018 Denver Lyric Opera Guild Competition. She was recently the sole Vocal Fellow at the 2023 Summer Institute for Contemporary Performance Practice, where she premiered a new piece by Jacob Lane and performed works by Cage, Epstein, and more, and was a finalist in the 2024 John Alexander National Vocal Competition with Opera Mississippi, 2025 Opera Ithaca Edward M. Murray International Competition of Voice, and a semifinalist in the 2025 James Toland Vocal Competition.
Leah currently studies with Dramatic Soprano Alexandra LoBianco.