Leah Tafoya 

Leah Tafoya is a soprano, conductor, and pianist originally from Santa Fe, New Mexico. A graduate of the University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music, she earned a degree in Vocal Performance with a minor in Leadership. During her time at Lamont, Leah performed in numerous productions with the Lamont Opera Theatre, including The Little Prince (chorus, cover for the Prince), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Peaseblossom), and Gianni Schicchi (Gherardino).

Leah’s love for opera began at a young age when her mother introduced her to the Santa Fe Opera. Captivated by the magic of live performance and the extraordinary power of the human voice, she knew early on that music would be a defining part of her life.

She began formal piano lessons at the age of six, later discovering her passion for singing. As an opera apprentice with Performance Santa Fe in 2015, she appeared in several productions including Hansel and Gretel and The Pirates of Penzance. At just 15, Leah premiered in her first lead role as Julianita in Shoes for the Santo Niño, a children’s opera presented by the Santa Fe Opera.

In addition to her operatic pursuits, Leah has a deep love for choral music. She has sung with the Santa Fe Symphony Chorus as a choral apprentice and was a three-time selectee for the NMMEA All-State Convention. Her studies at Lamont also sparked an interest in conducting, leading to her current role at St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church in Denver, where she served as a choral scholar and alternate conductor.

Leah currently studies under the guidance of Wagnerian soprano Heidi Melton and looks forward to continuing her career in opera both in Colorado and beyond.