Caroline Léonardelli

Caroline Léonardelli classical harpist has an accomplished career at as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestra musician and teacher. Born in France, Caroline graduated with first prize in harp from the Paris Conservatoire under the guidance of Jacqueline Borot at the age of 18. Caroline went on to advanced study with Judy Loman through the McGill University School of Music. During her youth, Caroline studied in France with Lily Laskine, one of the most celebrated harpists of the 20th century.
Caroline is principal harpist with the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra and the Gatineau Symphony Orchestra. Caroline has also performed as a guest with numerous orchestras including the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, the London (Ontario) Symphony, Symphony Nova Scotia, and Opera Lyra.

Leslie Newman

Leslie Newman made her professional debut with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra at the age of 18, performing Carl Nielsen’s Flute Concerto under the baton of Sir Andrew Davis. Since then, she has performed all the major flute concerti with orchestras throughout Canada. She has appeared in recitals in New York, Montreal, Chicago, Washington D.C., Taipei, and London’s prestigious Wigmore Hall, where her two performances were broadcast live by the BBC’s Radio 3. She has performed as guest Principal Flautist with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra under Sir Simon Rattle, the Hall? Orchestra with Kent Nagano, the Bournemouth Symphony and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Festival appearances include Banff, Bogot?, Salzburg, Sorrento, the Stratford International Flute Festival and the Oregon Bach Festival. Her debut CD, Beyond the Iron Curtain, released by CALA/United, was described by Gramophone Magazine as an “...immensely worthwhile contribution to the catalogue”.
A native of Alberta, Leslie won First Prize in the Canadian National Competitive Festival of Music at the age of 17. Upon completion of her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Toronto she was awarded a prestigious Canada Council Grant to study with the late Thomas Nyfenger at Yale University. While still a student at Yale, Leslie won Top Prize in the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s National Young Performers’ Competition. After graduating from Yale with her Masters Degree, along with the honour of being named Outstanding Performance Major, Leslie moved to New York where she continued her studies with Julius Baker at the renowned Juilliard School.
Leslie currently makes her home in Toronto, where she teaches at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Music, and the Glenn Gould Professional School.