Sophie's music
“As a singer, Sophie Leleu infuses her music with poetry and lyricism, lending delicate sonic textures to the intangible… The composer grapples with the mysteries of existence. Straddling the line between the figurative and the abstract, her music resembles painting with its broad palette of instrumental colors. Rather than lines, it is the sound effects that describe the animal, unleash its formidable energy, and reveal and recount its differences—all to challenge humanity to reflect on its own relationship with nature and the world.” François-Gildas Tual, musicologist and associate professor (October 2026 /Unanimes competition / Maison de Radio France)
“Sophie Leleu is a French composer whose wonderful world gives rise to a wealth of poetry, full of descriptive imagery that at times borders on irony. In keeping with the French tradition, she combines poetic elements that are both extremely melodious and a bit jarring, transporting us into a strange world.” Benoit Sitzia, artistic director of the Ars Nova ensemble (March 2024/Electrosession Festival)
Biography
Mezzo-soprano and harpist, Sophie first turned to opera, both in the repertoire and in contemporary creations. She has performed throughout Europe, the United States and Asia . She has appeared in Bizet’s Carmen, Saint-Saëns’s Frédégonde at the Saïgon Opera in Vietnam, Jacqueline in Gounod’s Le Médecin malgré lui at theSaint-Etienne Opera, Nancy Tang in Adams’s Nixon in China at the Théâtre du Châtelet, Ulrica in Verdi’s Le Bal Masqué at the Mancinelli Theatre in Italy, etc.
A composer and improviser, Sophie is also a creative force. She began writing songs at an early age, accompanying herself on the harp, which she performed in a number of concerts, before composing for the performing arts.
Artistic director of the Des Lieux & Des Êtres company, Sophie creates shows around the voice, offering different aesthetics, mixing repertoire and creations.
While in confinement, she joins J.Pontier’s composition class at Pôle Sup’93- CRR d’Aubervilliers. She went on to perfect her skills in Aurélien Dumont’s class at the Créteil CRR.
She wrote several pieces for prestigious ensembles and obtained her DEM in June 2023.
Sophie writes for the ensembles Court-Circuit, Ars Nova, 2E2M, Multilatérale, Accroche Note and L’Instant Donné.
The Philharmonie de Paris commissioned her first original work, “Solstice—Song to the Moon,” in March 2023, and she was subsequently named a laureate of the “Territoires en Création” program launched by the Ars Nova ensemble, which commissioned works from her for the 2023–24 season.The Orchestre National d’Auvergne Rhône-Alpes commissioned her to compose a work titled “Des Oiseaux dans mes racines,” which premiered atthe Opéra de Clermont-Ferrand and was subsequently performed atthe Opéra de Vichy (September 25, 26, and 27, 2026).
A finalist in the Unanimes International Composition Competition, Sophie won the competition’s grand prize and the orchestra musicians’ prize in the Chamber Orchestra category. The Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra premiered her work “Animal” on October 1, 26, at Studio 104 of the Maison de la Radio.
Latest creations
Established on October 1, 2026
“ANIMAL,” a symphonic work for chamber orchestra, winner of the Grand Prix at the Unanimes Competition and the Orchestra Musicians’ Prize in the chamber orchestra category, premiered bythe Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Félix Bénati.
Studio 104 / Maison de Radio France
Created on September 25, 2026
“Birds in My Roots,” a symphonic work for string orchestra and percussion— Commissioned by the Rhône-Alpes National Orchestra
Opéra-Théâtre de Clermont-Ferrand
New world creation the 2nd of may 2026
“Fin’ Amor” is a quintet writing on a text of Gersande de Sabran – Présence Compositrices order
for three women voices,, nickelharpa or violon, cello and Tam tam
Festival Présence Compositrices – Abbaye de la Celle
New world creation, the 17th of decembre 2025
“Tout est un” world creation of a piece for mezzo-soprano and orchestra
Based on an indian philosophical poem of XIXth century. “All is one” is a piece for soloist and orchestra created by Sophie Leleu and the Créteil conservatory orchestra conducted by Florent Didier the 17th of december 2025 in the Créteil concerthall
Créteil CRR Auditorium
