Background

After studying Composition with Matthew Sergeant during her A Level year, Leah was offered an unconditional scholarship to attend the Royal Northern College of Music where she studied with Gary Carpenter. During this time she had commissions from the Sheffield Philharmonic Orchestra, RNCM Day of Song, Exaudi, RNCM Wind Weekend and the Xaverian Chamber Choir. 

After presenting her own musical Perception as part of her graduate finals, Leah moved away from contemporary classical music and began to develop her songwriting skills.

Musical Director Scott Stait conducting the world premiere of Perception.
Finalist Feedback with George Stiles, Anthony Drewe & Mark Warman

Unraveling

Leah's current project is Unraveling, for which she is providing musical dramaturgy and additional music and lyrics.

The song “What I’m After” was recently selected as a finalist for the 2016 Stiles and Drewe Best New Song Prize.  The song was performed at a West End gala in association with The Stephen Sondheim Society’s Student Performer of the Year Competition, also sponsored by Mercury Musical Developments. The event was held at the Novello Theatre, was hosted by Julian Ovenden, and featured performances from Broadway legends and West End’s finest.

Songbook

Leah is inspired by the works of Stravinsky, Sondheim and Menken and puts storytelling at the heart of her songs.

Mirror Mirror Vocals & Guitar ~ Claire Jordan

Mirror Mirror Demo.mp3

What I Do Changes Everything Demo.mp3

Music & Lyrics by China Doll, Roxanne Lamendola & Leah Fogo

Ava ~ Erin Caldwell
Keys ~ Scott Stait

Shakespeare Day Of Song 

In 2012 Leah was commissioned to set three texts from As You Like It for the Royal Northern College of Music's festival Shakespeare Day Of Song. 

Soprano ~ Jessica Gillingwater
Piano ~ Jamie Thompson

Perception

As part of her finals for her undergraduate degree, Leah wrote the book, music and lyrics for Perception which was premiered by the University of Manchester Musical Theatre Society in their inaugural season.

Director ~ Sophie Day
Musical Director ~ Scott Stait

Maggie comes home one day to find her whole life turned upside down. Her childhood sweetheart has a side she knows nothing of and as the media close in and scandal flares, we are left wondering if we can ever truly know the ones we love?

Maggie ~ Rhia Douty 

Photos by Ollie Cartwright