Leah Keyes Durham

Leah Keyes Durham

A native of Charleston, SC, Leah Keyes Durham holds the Bachelor of Music degree in choral music education from Furman University and the Master of Music degree in choral conducting performance from Louisiana State University. She has 15 years of experience as a music educator and conductor across four states- in public schools (elementary, middle, and high), in church settings (children, youth, and adults), and in community choir programs. As a public school music educator, choirs under her direction regularly earned superior ratings at state and regional festivals, and her students earned spots in All-State choirs. Leah was honored as District Teacher of the Year for Anderson School District 4 (SC) in 2011-2012 and previously served as the Middle School Chair for the SC American Choral Directors Association.

Leah is the Artistic Director of the Alabama Choir School, a youth and children's community choir program serving 1st-12th grade singers across four choirs in Tuscaloosa, AL. She currently conducts the program's Ambassador (middle school) and Chamber (high school) choirs, and is proud to be the third Artistic Director in the program's nearly 40-year history.

As a soprano soloist, Leah has performed in works such as Bach’s Magnificat, Mozart’s Mass in C minor, Handel’s Messiah, Vivaldi’s Gloria, and Faure’s Requiem. Leah moved to Tuscaloosa from Pendleton, South Carolina in 2021 with her husband, Justin, and their two young children, Colin and Molly. She has sung with the Taylor Festival Choir since 2017.