Songbird spreads wings at USQ
LEAH Lever’s dream of performing on the world’s greatest stages has moved a step closer.
This year, the young soprano has commenced a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Music) at the University of Southern Queensland.
Leah was an accelerated student and identified musically gifted in primary school.
At 15 her singing resume reads like a performing veteran having starred with world-renowned soprano Mirusia in her touring show. Mirusia then produced Leah’s debut CD Dream Catcher.
Last year she completed a Head Start course through USQ and was excited for more academic and musical challenges. Following a stringent interview and audition process she was accepted in to the University’s Creative Arts program.
“I am excited to begin my studies,” Leah said.
“USQ offers such a vast range of opportunities in theory and practical.
“As a developing artist it also gives me the opportunity to collaborate with others and explore and extend my repertoire and music style.”
It will be a busy time for the singer (and her parents) driving from Brisbane to Toowoomba for classes and study, as well as a performance schedule which includes the Neil Diamond Tribute Show and her own touring show.
But for the young starlet the balancing act is all worth it.
“For me, I know music is my future,” she said.
“There is nowhere else I want to be than learning more, and performing more.”
USQ’s Music program is increasingly recognised as one of the most innovative in Australia.
School of Arts and Communication Senior Lecturer Dr Melissa Forbes (Contemporary Singing and Music) said it was a holistic program of learning, which valued musical diversity and integrated theory with practice and music technology.
“Our Bachelor of Creative Arts (Music) program is being sought out by students like Leah who are savvy about what it takes in this day and age to forge a successful music career,” Dr Forbes said.
“Leah didn’t want to be pigeonholed within a specific genre.
Music graduates today need to be versatile, collaborative, industry-connected, self-motivated and creative.
“Our program offers students all this and more.”
To find out more about studying Music at USQ visit: www.usq.edu.au /study/degrees/bachelor-of -creative-arts/music