​Lauren Sawyer
Executive Director/Founder

Lauren Sawyer is a dramatic soprano who has performed grand opera all over the world in cities such as Berlin, Germany, New York City, Los Angeles and recently with members of the Symphonique Orchestre de Montreal.  An accomplished vocal technician, Lauren runs a voice studio, Boulder Classical Voice, in Boulder and New York City, where her students are attending some of the top conservatories in the country: Eastman School of Music, Oberlin and Berklee School of Music.  Her students are finalists in international competitions, such as The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, Classical Singer Competition, Schmidt Youth Competition, and are singing in major opera houses that include Washington National Opera, Central City Opera, Virginia Opera, Sarasota Opera, Anchorage Opera and New York Lyric Opera. As founder of Boulder Music Institute, a local professional development summer program, her passion is helping singers develop a strong vocal technique so that they can be creatively expressive with their instrument. Her relationships with talent agencies and opera houses in the United States and Europe have helped many singers launch their careers.  Her husband, Greg, and daughters, Elizabeth, Kimberly and Aria are her inspiration and the great loves of her life.  

​Claire Leborgne
Speech Therapist

Claire is a graduate of the University of Denver (Bachelors of Music) and the University of Colorado (Masters of Art – Speech Language Pathology). She is currently in the process of completing her Clinical Fellowship and adores working with various types of clients. Her particular passions include pediatric therapy and voice disorder therapy. Outside of speech and language therapy, Claire teaches music lessons and enjoys performing with local theater and opera companies in the Denver Metro area.
Emily Meinhart Morris
Vocal Technician

Emily Meinhart Morris has performed opera internationally with top-tier houses and symphonies including Opera Fest di Roma and Boulder Symphony Orchestra. Her extensive knowledge of the voice began 20 years ago as a Master student, a performer and a teacher.  Her teaching philosophy is that pedagogical education, while important, is only part of the equation. It is vital to her teaching philosophy that instructors must always remain current in their knowledge of music and in teaching philosophy and technique. They also must serve their students by focusing on their technical needs, enriching their experience as vocal students and performers. Emily currently holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Music Technology and a Master’s of Library and Information Science.

Leah Podzimek
Grant Writer

A talented arts consultant, Leah specializes in providing opportunities for new audiences to be introduced to the arts, thereby ensuring that classical music remains relevant to contemporary communities. She has significant experience in fundraising, social media, event planning and partnership development for arts organizations in both the UK and throughout the United States.  Leah is an advocate for positive advancement in cultural policy regulations and arts education initiatives.

Leah received a BMus in Vocal Music Performance from Wartburg College in 2012 and an MA in Arts Administration and Cultural Policy from the University of London in 2013. She is a member of Opera On Tap Colorado and performs regularly in the Denver/Boulder communities. An avid world traveller, foodie and culture junkie, Leah uses her experiences to provide a fresh perspective on culture and community to support growth and expansion within creative and cultural organizations. Leah serves as the Grant Writer and Development Consultant for Boulder Music Institute, helping to fund projects and programs throughout the year.


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