In action with The Orchestra Now. Photo credit: Matt Dine.
Leah Stevens will begin her fellowship in September 2019 with the New World Symphony under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas, and is a former member of The Orchestra Now. She has worked with notable conductors including Fabio Luisi, Ken-David Masur, David Robertson, and Ward Stare. Ms. Stevens has also performed with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Quad Cities Symphony (IA), South Bend Symphony (IN), and the Lexington Philharmonic (KY).
Most recently, Ms. Stevens was awarded First Prize in the Orchestral Audition and Masterclass and Second Prize in the Piccolo Orchestral Audition and Masterclass at the 2017 National Flute Association Convention. She has also won First Prize in the Flute Society of St. Louis Young Artist Competition and Honorable Mention in the Music Teacher's National Association Young Artist Competition at the state level in Nebraska. She was a finalist in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Graduate Concerto Competition both in 2013 and 2014, and a winner of the Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville Wind Symphony Concerto Competition in 2011.
As a teacher, Ms. Stevens enjoys working with students of all ages, levels, and backgrounds. In 2018, she completed a master class and recital tour of Greater St. Louis and central and southern Missouri, focusing on giving students career advice pertaining to beginning to build a professional career after graduation. This tour included Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, Webster University, McKendree University, Missouri State University, and Truman State University. She has also worked for The People's Music School in Chicago, IL, an organization that strives to provide music education to underprivileged children, as a part of their Greater South Side outreach in Grand Crossing. Ms. Stevens has been a recurring clinician for the Flute Society of St. Louis’s Annual Flute Day, teaching middle school and high school masterclasses, orchestral excerpt masterclasses, and morning warm ups.
Ms. Stevens is a grantee of the Friends of Flutes foundation, and she has performed in master classes for esteemed artists Jeanne Baxtresser, Jim Walker, Alberto Almarza, Ian Clarke, and Carol Wincenc. She is indebted to her teachers Mark Sparks, John Bailey, and Shelly Monier, with additional influences from Aaron Goldman and Alyce Johnson.
Most recently, Ms. Stevens was awarded First Prize in the Orchestral Audition and Masterclass and Second Prize in the Piccolo Orchestral Audition and Masterclass at the 2017 National Flute Association Convention. She has also won First Prize in the Flute Society of St. Louis Young Artist Competition and Honorable Mention in the Music Teacher's National Association Young Artist Competition at the state level in Nebraska. She was a finalist in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Graduate Concerto Competition both in 2013 and 2014, and a winner of the Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville Wind Symphony Concerto Competition in 2011.
As a teacher, Ms. Stevens enjoys working with students of all ages, levels, and backgrounds. In 2018, she completed a master class and recital tour of Greater St. Louis and central and southern Missouri, focusing on giving students career advice pertaining to beginning to build a professional career after graduation. This tour included Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, Webster University, McKendree University, Missouri State University, and Truman State University. She has also worked for The People's Music School in Chicago, IL, an organization that strives to provide music education to underprivileged children, as a part of their Greater South Side outreach in Grand Crossing. Ms. Stevens has been a recurring clinician for the Flute Society of St. Louis’s Annual Flute Day, teaching middle school and high school masterclasses, orchestral excerpt masterclasses, and morning warm ups.
Ms. Stevens is a grantee of the Friends of Flutes foundation, and she has performed in master classes for esteemed artists Jeanne Baxtresser, Jim Walker, Alberto Almarza, Ian Clarke, and Carol Wincenc. She is indebted to her teachers Mark Sparks, John Bailey, and Shelly Monier, with additional influences from Aaron Goldman and Alyce Johnson.
