Leslie McMichael,
Harp & Suzuki Harp

Teaching Artist Statement

Harpist Leslie McMichael feels lucky to be doing what she loves for a living. She has taught harp at Music Center since 2010 and strongly supports the school’s core belief in the transformative power of music. Leslie joined the Seattle Symphony as a Teaching Artist in 2015 and also includes performance, teaching, recording, and composition in her musical pursuits. Leslie’s versatility takes her from touring with silent film performances to playing for local weddings. A graduate of Wellesley College, Leslie has pursued Suzuki Method training with Mary Kay Waddington at the American Suzuki Institute in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, and now directs a thriving Suzuki harp program in the greater Seattle area.

Teaching Bio

Leslie is a member of the Suzuki Academy faculty at Music Center of the Northwest, and has also taught harp at the Evergreen Suzuki Institute, Vashon Island Harp Camp, the Edmonds Summer Music School, and the Suzuki Institute of Seattle. Leslie is on the 4Culture Touring Arts Roster, has served as president of the Suzuki Association of Washington State and of the Seattle Chapter of the American Harp Society, and has adjudicated at the Washington State Solo and Ensemble Contest and the Pacific Northwest Scottish Games harp competition.

Performance Bio

Commissions and professional recognition

  • Commissioned to write and perform harp and viola score for 1916 silent film SNOW WHITE by Northwest Film Forum, Seattle WA. Score was premiered on opening night of Children's Film Festival Seattle (2016).

  • Received grant from the Musicians' Club of Seattle to write and perform a new string composition in collaboration with Kaleidoscope Dance Company of Seattle (2015). 

  • Commissioned to write and perform music for CHAMPAGNE, part of The Hitchcock 9 at SIFF Cinema, Seattle WA (2013).

  • Peter Pan recording chosen for New Scores for Silent Film on The Score, public radio film music program (2012).

  • Commissioned to write and perform music for Baby Peggy film CAPTAIN JANUARY by Northwest Film Forum, Seattle WA (2012).

  • Silver Bells recording chosen for inclusion in A Northwest Classical Christmas produced by KING-FM, Seattle (2011).

  • Commissioned to write and perform A LITTLE PRINCESS silent film score by Northwest Film Forum, Seattle WA (2010).

  • Co-directed youth harp ensemble workshop at National Conference of American Harp Society, Tacoma WA (2010).

  • Joined the faculty of Music Center of the Northwest, Seattle (2010).

  • Selected by juried audition to join 4Culture Touring Artist Roster, King County WA (2009).

  • Commissioned to write and perform PETER PAN silent film score by Northwest Film Forum, Seattle WA (2007).

Notable performances of original work

  • 2015, invited to perform my composition "Rocks Beneath Water" live for the Summer Dance Institute for Teachers at Creative Dance Center, Seattle WA.

  • 2015, my harp-viola-cello composition "Rocks Beneath Water" was performed live in four Kaleidoscope Dance Company concerts at Broadway Performance Hall, Seattle WA.

  • 2014, invited to perform PETER PAN film score as part of Silent Movie Mondays at Paramount
    Theatre, Seattle WA.

  • 2012, toured performing film scores with screenings at American Film Institute Silver Theatre, Silver Spring MD; Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center, Covington KY; Cinema Arts Centre, New York; Cornella Cinema, Ithaca NY; Coolidge Corner Theatre, Boston MA.

  • 2011, composed and performed three harp score for Children's Film Festival Seattle screenings of silent film A LITTLE PRINCESS (1917). Subsequent live performances with film screenings occurred at Pickford Film Center, Bellingham WA and Tacoma Public Library, Tacoma WA

  • 2009, composed and conducted Summer Suite, an eight part work for recorded sound installation and live harp ensemble performance at Burien Interim Art Space (B/IAS), Burien WA.

  • 2007, composed and performed three harp score for Northwest Film Forum screenings of silent film PETER PAN (1924). Toured to REDCAT International Children's Film Festival, Los Angeles CA; Astoria International Film Festival, Astoria OR; Oklahoma City Museum of Art, OK; Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, TX; Whidbey Island Center for the Arts, Langley WA.