David Slezak Photography and Tony Marchment H&M
With a “vibrant voice and vivacious personality”, Australian soprano D a n i e l a L e s k a (born Daniela Jedrzejczak) is a Singapore-based soprano with Polish heritage who has worked in the global professional music industry for almost two decades. As Pamina in The Magic Flute with Opera Australia, Daniela was reviewed as “creating a beautiful sound that expresses both great joy and also deep sorrow.” She has been a soloist in Australia, Germany, Switzerland, China and Singapore in opera, music theatre and on the concert platform. Daniela is the founder of Daniela Leska Arts in Singapore.
Daniela’s operatic repertoire encompasses excerpts as Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro, Mimì and Musetta in La bohème, Laetitia in The Old Maid and the Thief, Magda in La Rondine, Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi, Micaëla in Carmen, Zerlina in Don Giovanni, Liù in Turandot, Cleopatra in Giulio Cesare and Gilda in Rigoletto.
Her staged full-roles include Pamina, Papagena and a Sprite in The Magic Flute; Annina in La Traviata, Despina in Così fan tutte; Sophie in Werther, Barbarina in Le nozze di Figaro, Sorceress in Dido and Aeneas, The Tailor and Bianca-understudy in the Australian premiere of Goetz’s The Taming of the Shrew, Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods and Beth Moss in The Tender Land.
Daniela has collaborated with leading arts organisations including Opera Australia; Singapore Lyric Opera; the State Opera of South Australia; Adelaide Chamber Singers; Australian International Opera Company; Lyric Opera of Melbourne; Co-Opera Inc.; Opera Projects Sydney and Australian Global Entertainment.
As a soloist on the concert platform, Daniela has performed Handel’s Messiah with Willoughby Symphony Orchestra; Mozart’s Requiem in the Sutherland Shire; Soprano/ Ancilla in Bach’s St. John Passion; Drei Lieder der Ophelia for the Lieder Society of Victoria and premiered Five Bells for soprano and guitar quartet. Her audiences have included dignitaries such as the former President of the Republic of Poland, Mr Andrzej Duda; former Australian Prime Minister, Mr Kevin Rudd; Ambassador of Italy to Singapore, Mr Dante Brandi; and the Consul General of the Czech Republic in Sydney, Ms. Hana Flanderová, after a personal request to sing ‘Měsíčku na nebo hlubokém’ in Sydney’s House of Parliament.
Daniela’s long-standing affiliation with the Consulate of the Republic of Poland in Sydney has seen her performing solo repertoire of Moniuszko, Chopin and Szymanowski at distinguished venues such as the Utzon Room, Sydney Opera House; Sydney Town Hall; Verbrugghen Hall, as well as at the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Canberra, under the honorary patronage of His Excellency Michał Kołodziejski, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to Australia. By personal invitation from then Pani Consul, Mrs Monika Kończyk, Daniela has performed at the Consulate of the Republic of Poland in Sydney with Polish baritone, Łukasz Goliński.
A featured artist on ABC Classic FM, 5MBS, 3MBS and SBS Polish Radio, Daniela has has appeared in live broadcasts and interviews, including a featured performance and interview with soprano Rosamund Illing. She has also sung as a cantor and guest soprano at major churches and cathedrals including St Francis Xavier Cathedral (Adelaide), St Mary’s Cathedral (Perth), St John’s Anglican Church (Melbourne) and in the Mary Immaculate Church, Waverley (Sydney), accompanied on organ by the Consul General of Solomon Islands. She also frequently sings at official events (anthems), private events, weddings and memorial services.
Daniela is the recipient of two prestigious George Boland Scholarships, a Joan Sutherland Richard Bonynge Award in the Bel Canto Awards, an Opera and Arts Support Group Vocal Scholarship in the Sydney Eisteddfod, a STARS Award, an ArtStart Grant, runner up in the Friends of SA State Opera Inc. and Dawn Wallace Aria Award (Open Age) and she is the winner of the Lucy J Bagot Operatic Aria Prize and Clement Q Williams German Lieder Prize. Daniela is a semi-finalist in the Sydney Eisteddfod Opera Scholarship and the Herald Sun Aria. She is a finalist in the Fremantle Eisteddfod Open Aria and the Acclaim Awards Italian Opera Fellowship; including a two-week masterclass series conducted by Professoressa Valeria Esposito with Associate Artist David Lempriere -Laughton.
To further develop her artistry through mentorships and professional development programs, Daniela has received a JUMP Mentorship to prepare the role of Zerlina with Sharolyn Kimmorley AM, a Helpmann Academy UpstART Program Grant to fund mentoring and the creation of the Adelaide Fringe Festival cabaret show “Bella x5,” and a Helpmann Academy Grant that funded a recording session with Mark Gasser after one month’s intensive study at WAAPA with Patricia Price and Christopher Edmund.
Over the course of her career, it has been an honour for Daniela to work with respected conductors, répétiteurs, directors and pedagogues including Linda Barcan, Tanja Binggeli, Marie-Claire, Nicole Dorigo, Valeria Esposito, Renato Fresia, David Harper, Chuck Hudson, Liane Keegan, Simon Kenway, Anthony Legge, Malcolm Martineau OBE, Stuart Maunder AM, Anthea Moller, Dr Christine Rothauser, Ghillian Sullivan, Guila Tiver and Brett Waymark.
Additional professional engagements include conducting choral workshops for St Francis’ Church, Melbourne; performing in The Adelaide Film Festival (with an ASO quartet); and appearing in the choruses for: Les pêcheurs de perles, La Traviata, Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 (under the baton of Vladimir Ashkenazy) and Mahler’s Symphony No. 3 (under the baton of Arvo Volmer).
As a peripatetic singing teacher, it brings Daniela utter joy to share her extensive knowledge, experience and passion, whilst guiding students to allow their optimal voice to be heard through healthy vocal technique, artistic confidence and authentic expression. She has taught in Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney including appointments at Melbourne Grammar School, Queenwood, Meriden and Ascham. Daniela is currently teaching singing in Singapore at the Australian International School and Evolve Arts.
A multi-disciplinary musician, Daniela has also studied piano, cello, trombone, percussion and taught dance.
A fully-funded Pacific Opera Young Artist, Daniela holds a Bachelor of Music with First-Class Honours from The University of Adelaide’s Elder Conservatorium of Music and a Graduate Diploma from Western Australia’s Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA).