Leah Grace Knight, Director

Meet the Director

ABOUT LEAH

Leah Grace Knight is a lyric coloratura soprano celebrated for her uniquely beautiful tone and her rich, full voice. She is known for her elegant musical interpretation and charming stage presence. Leah has an incredibly versatile mechanism which allows her to master many genres of music with ease, but none as effortlessly as her first love - oratorio.

EXPERIENCE

Leah has performed in a variety of operas, operettas, oratorios and musical theater productions. These performances include her debut with the Fargo Moorhead Opera as Barbarina from Le Nozze di Figaro, Olympia from Les Contes D’Hoffman, Merry Widow from The Merry Widow, Lisa from Pique Dame and countless others. Leah has enjoyed singing in the chorus for Dialogue of the Carmelites and La Traviata as well as performing the soprano solos for Carmina Burana and the Messiah. 

Leah established the Merry Melody Music Academy in Lake Park, MN in 2020 and has enjoyed enormous success and growth over the past three years. 

EDUCATION

  • Dickinson State University - Undergraduate in Vocal Performance 

  • North Dakota State University - Graduate Studies vocal performance 

  • Johanna Meier Opera Theater Institute - opera performance 

  • Miami Frost school of Music in Salzburg, Austria - opera, oratorio & song cycle Performance with German language immersion 

 AWARDS & HONORS

  • Finalist, Shirley Winston Rabb Scholarship, NATS

  • Winner, Market Place Talent Search, Market Place of Ideas

  • Winner, Summer Opera Program Scholarship, Johanna Meier Opera Theater Institute

  • Winner, First Place, North Dakota State Women’s Division, NATS (Four Consecutive Years)

  • Winner, Encouragement Award, District MET Auditions (Two Conservative Years)

  • Recipient of Music Performance and Language Study Abroad Scholarship, Salzburg College, Miami Frost School of Music

  • Winner, North Dakota State Young Artist Competition, MTNA

  • Winner, West Central Division Young Artist Competition, MTNA

  • Finalist, National Young Artist Competition, MTNA

Leah Knight is the lead instructor at the Academy and teaches voice, piano, percussion, guitar, ukulele, woodwinds, violin and group music classes of all kinds for all ages.

Meet our “Merry Team”

  • Deanna Bachmann-Piano Instructor

    Deanna graduated from Pillsbury Baptist Bible College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Piano Performance and has been teaching piano lessons, homeschooling her family and working as a church pianist for nearly 30 years. Deanna join the teaching team at Merry Melody in 2022.

    Deanna is an instructor of private and companion piano lessons at the Academy.

  • Jacob Woody-Brass and Guitar Instructor

    Jacob Wood is from Lake Park, MN and has played trumpet since he was in 5th grade. He started learning guitar at the age of 14. Jacob graduated from Lake Park-Audubon Highschool in 2018. He then stared his college career at Minnesota State Community and Technical College in Fergus Falls where he obtained his Associate of Fine Arts degree in 2020. After graduating M-State he transferred to Minnesota State University Moorhead and graduated in 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Music Education. Jacob achieved his dream and became the first in his family to obtain a college degree.

    Jacob is now a full-time Educational Representative for Schmitt Music in Fargo where he is able to support a large number of music programs throughout Minnesota and North Dakota.

    Jacob joined the Merry Melody teaching team in 2023 as an instructor of brass, guitar, woodwinds and percussion. He offers a warm, friendly learning environment where he inspires and supports students as they embark on their musical journey.

  • Apprentice Teachers-A Variety of Instruments

    The Merry Melody Music Academy is proud to offer a work-based apprenticeship program to train the next generation of private music teachers.

    We are happy to introduce the 2024/2025 student teachers. Left bottom, Sarah Brandt; right bottom, Lily Bach; left top, Mara Bestge; right top, Lillie Hansen.

  • Melissa Jay-Assistant/Supervisor

    Melissa is a homeschool mom with 3 children, 4 dogs and 2 cats and lives with her husband, Sam, in rural MN. Melissa’s family is an integral part of the Academy as they were the very first students to begin working with Mrs. Knight in the Lake Park Area.

    Melissa is the Academy’s Administrative Assistant and Teaching Apprentice Supervisor.

    Melissa joined the Merry Melody team in 2021.

  • Paul Rohweller-Small Instrument Repair

    Paul Rohweller is the Academy’s resident small instrument repair specialist. Paul is passionate musician, repair specialist and an all around “nice guy.” Paul joined the Merry Melody team in 2021.

  • Alex Moe-Piano Tuner/Large Instrument Repair

    Alex Moe is the Academy’s resident large instrument repair specialist and an exceptional piano tuner. Alex is a talented organist, pianist and all around musician. Alex joined the Merry Melody team in 2022.