Meet
Lesley O'Donel
Beginnings
Formative Years
Hailing from Chehalis, Washington, Lesley is a W.F. West graduate, Class of 1998. As a high school student, she performed the challenging and nuanced Dutilleux “Sonatine” at State Solo Contest.
Undergraduate Studies
After graduation, she attended Central Washington University, reputed for its high-quality music instruction. At Central, Lesley studied with the well-known and well-respected Hal Ott, earning her Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance in 2002.
Heritage
Graduate Studies
Lesley then moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts to study with Robert Willoughby at the Longy School of Music. Professor Willoughby was a student of Joseph Mariano at Eastman, and is considered one of the most influential American flute instructors, due to his students’ success in achieving principal orchestral positions.
Flute Ancestry
Willoughby is a direct pedagogical “descendant” of William Kincaid, who is revered among flutists as the founder of American flute playing. Willoughby was also one of the first Baroque flutists in America. His influence shines in Lesley’s Baroque phrasing, which is refined and subtly sophisticated -- a level of definition many instrumentalists struggle to achieve.
Mastery
Experience
Notable experiences in Boston include the Chagall Performance Art Collaborative as well as coaching flute choirs, school flute sections, and private students. Marco Granados, Zart Eby, and Dawn Weiss of the Oregon Symphony are other teachers influencing Lesley’s style.
Performance
After several intensive years of teaching, studying, performing, and auditioning in the Boston area, Lesley earned her Masters in Music in 2008. Lesley has recently returned to her roots in Chehalis, Washington, and currently enjoys performing with the Pacific Northwest Chamber Orchestra under David Judd, and the Northwest Wind Symphony under Dan Schmidt.
Private Lessons
Lesley is currently accepting new students willing to travel to the Centralia/Chehalis area. Please contact her to schedule a FREE first lesson.