Bio
Lisa Ruth Niemeier is a pianist, composer, opera singer, and a musical storyteller. Since becoming a composer in May, 2023, her works have gained national and international recognition. Three of her works have been premiered by renowned artists, beginning in August 2024. That month, her concert aria “Mothers and Daughters,” premiered by Katie Polit and Phillip Dannels at the Del Mar International Composers Symposium; her fourth piano work, “Reverie,” premiered in Estonia by Katya Kramer December, 2024; and her piano/cello piece, “Breaking the Walls,” premiered in Paris by Julie Sevilla-Fraysèe and Anastasia Calmus January 2025. Three more premiers are in progress and her first single was recently released by Oclassica Classical Music Record label.
The heartless denial of her professionally encouraged adolescent dream of becoming an opera star has fueled a later-in-life composition and performance career pursuit that is relentless. Lisa Ruth relishes performing. And her recently discovered love for composing has only added fuel to her artistic fire.
Emanating from her operatic roots, Lisa Ruth distinguishes her performances and her compositions by creating stories inspired by the music she composes as well as by composers whose music she grew up adoring. She ties segments of her stories to the particular passages in the music that illustrate them, offering audiences a present-day, deeply engaging experience. She performs solo piano and collaboratively in various chamber settings. Her commissions emanate from rising stars and established concert artists.
She currently studies with concert pianist Thomas Pandolfi, with celebrated composer Polina Nazaykinskaya, with improvisation professor Laurens Patzlaff, Hochschule für Musik Freiburg, and classical voice with Mark Thress, New Roots Music and Opera Nashville. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance from University of Memphis and a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Lisa Ruth lives in Richmond, VA with her husband and in close proximity to her daughter and her family. She also loves dancing ballet, film, and the ocean.