Leslie Fagan recently joined the Omaha Symphony as second flutist. For many years she was an active freelancer and teacher in the Chicago area and was a founding member of the Barossa Quintet. She has been a regular substitute for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra since 1999 and has been a substitute/extra player for the Lyric Opera of Chicago. During the 2003-2004 season, she held a one-year position on flute and piccolo with the Lyric Opera of Chicago and has performed as principal flutist with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. She has performed with numerous other organizations as both an orchestral player and soloist. Leslie was a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago during the 1997-1998 season and performed with that organization at Carnegie Hall under Daniel Barenboim. She spent two seasons as second flutist with the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra and has appeared as soloist with the Zion Chamber Orchestra, the Suburban Youth Orchestra, and the Waukegan Symphony Orchestra.

As a member of the Barossa Quintet, Leslie performed live on WFMT's Dame Myra Hess concert series as well as on Chicago's Music in the Loft chamber music series, and in recital at Ravinia's Bennett Gordon Hall. With the Barossa Quintet she also regularly presented educational concerts in Chicago public schools through both the International Music Foundation and Ravinia's educational outreach program.

Leslie teaches privately and previously was studio instructor for flute majors at Roosevelt University in Chicago. Leslie's teachers include Peter Lloyd, Kathryn Lucas, Trevor Wye, and Walfrid Kujala. She holds a Doctorate of Music in flute performance from Northwestern University. [email]