Artistic Director

Leah Ivory, Artistic Director

Leah Ivory is the artistic director for the Grand Rapids Youth Chorus program. Leah has accompanied and assisted with performance curriculum and production for the St. Cecilia Youth Chorus program and the North American Choral Company prior to founding the Grand Rapids Symphony Youth Chorus program with Sean Ivory in 2008, which has now become the Grand Rapids Youth Chorus. Leah has performed with choral ensembles on tours throughout the United States and overseas. In addition to working with GRYC, Leah teaches World Music at Calvin University and accompanies the choirs at Grand Rapids Christian High School. She is also a teaching artist with Artists Creating Together, and a certified djembe instructor through the Tam Tam Mandingue Djembe Academy, an international school founded by Mamady Keita. In 2015, Leah completed a drum facilitation course in India with Taal Inc, an organization that aims to positively influence the areas of health and well being through rhythm, music and the arts.  She freelances as a drummer and offers workshops in West African traditional rhythms throughout West Michigan.