In October 2020, Leia Lensing made her debut with Ars Lyrica Houston in a concert of J.S. Bach, performing BWV 170: Vergnügte Ruh’, beliebte Seelenlust and BWV 134: Ein Herz, das seinen Jesum lebend weiß. Having graduated from the Houston Grand Opera Studio in May 2020, Lensing went on to make her virtual debut with Wolf Trap Opera that following summer. There, Lensing performed in several virtual scenes projects, including large portions of Orfeo ed Euridice, Eugene Onegin, and Serse.  For the 2019-2020 season, Lensing returned to the Houston Grand Opera Studio, where she performed in scenes from Giustino (Handel), La pietra del paragone (Rossini), and Cendrillon (Massenet). A highlight of the season was covering the role of David in Handel’s Saul. In January, Lensing received 2nd Place in the Gulf Coast Region Finals in the Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions, as well as winning the Mary Jacobs Smith Singer of the Year Competition with Shreveport Opera, in March. Lensing finished her time in the studio by performing works of Benjamin Britten and Herbert Howells in an HGO studio recital at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and was scheduled to return to the main stage in the spring productions, unfortunately canceled due to the pandemic. In the 2018-2019 season, Lensing made her debut as Frau Mary in Der fliegende Holländer, performing with “clarity and opulent color” (Houstonia) and “a natural and unforced low tessitura perfect for this role” (Schmopera). Lensing was a Houston district winner for the Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions, leading to her encouragement award at the regional level in New Orleans. In May 2019, Lensing performed Shostakovich’s “Spanish Songs” Op. 100 in the Rienzi Recital series with Houston Grand Opera.  Lensing returned to Santa Fe Opera to cover the role of Grandmother Buryjovka in Jenůfa, as well as performing in Vaughan-Williams’ Serenade to Music. Lensing possesses musical instincts and skill for early music, having performed as a soloist in several Bach cantatas and a regional premiere of Vivaldi’s cantata, RV 677 Qual per ignoto calle, in her graduate studies. In addition to her chamber ensemble work, Lensing is seasoned in singing with orchestra and wind ensemble. Some of her experiences include Haydn’s Theresienmesse, Jacob de Haan’s Nerval’s Poems, and excerpts from Handel’s Messiah. Lensing is an experienced song recitalist. Recent performance credits include excerpts from Berlioz’s Les nuits d’ete, Copland’s Old American Songs, Elgar’s Sea Pictures, and Mahler’s Des Knaben Wunderhorn.   In February 2018, Lensing was awarded the First Prize in the Eleanor Mccollum Competition for Young Singers at Houston Grand Opera, as well as capturing the Online Viewers’ Choice Award, delivering a performance with “goosebump-inducing richness and beauty” (Houston Grand Opera). In addition to her inclination for early music, Lensing is experienced in new opera works, having covered the role of Pasqualita (Doctor Atomic) in the 2018 Sante Fe Opera season and participated in a workshop for an upcoming Opera Philadelphia premiere.  Lensing completed her formal training at the University of Northern Iowa, where she earned her Bachelor of Music Education (2015) and Master of Music (2018) degrees. Although a small-town, Iowa girl at heart, Lensing has broadened her horizons and traveled nationally to young artist programs such as Des Moines Metro Opera, Sante Fe Opera, Wolf Trap Opera, and Houston Grand Opera.  As the COVID-19 Pandemic swept across the world, Lensing was scheduled to make several role and house debuts, including the following: the Page of Herodias (Salome) and Third Lady (Die Zauberflöte), April/May 2020, HGO; Olga (Eugene Onegin), June 2020, Wolf Trap Opera debut; Frau Mary (Der fliegende Holländer), October 2020, Utah Opera debut; Flower Maiden and Voice from above (Parsifal), February 2021, HGO; Unfortunately, all were canceled to social distancing and safety measures for the pandemic.  Next Up, Lensing will return to Ars Lyrica Houston to perform as Virtue in Handel’s The Choice of Hercules and Echo in BWV 213 Laßt uns sorgen, Laßt uns wachen. Following in December, Lensing will be in New York to cover the Third Lady in the Metropolitan Opera’s holiday production of The Magic Flute.