About Me
"Much that has become our own in gentleness, modesty, kindness, willingness to forgive, veracity, loyalty, resignation under suffering, we owe to people in whom we have seen or experienced such virtues at work, sometimes in a great matter, sometimes in a small...Example is not the main thing influencing others. It is the only thing." - Albert Schweitzer
Violist Leah Swann maintains a varied career in New York City that combines chamber music, orchestral playing, teaching, freelance writing, and arts administration. Leah holds a BA in English from Yale University, a Master's of Music in viola performance from SUNY-Purchase, and a Graduate Diploma from the New England Conservatory, where she studied with and acted as teaching assistant for Martha Katz. From 2007-09, Leah was a fellow of The Academy - A Program of Carnegie Hall, The Juilliard School, and the Weill Music Institute, a two-year fellowship that provides performance opportunities around New York, professional development support, and teaching experience. During those two years, Leah performed 15 times in Carnegie Hall with The Academy's performing chamber group, Ensemble ACJW, and appeared in school concerts in all five boroughs of New York. As a Teaching Artist, Leah was in residence for 2007-09 at the Long Island City High School in Queens, NY.
As an orchestral violist, Leah appears regularly with the Orchestra of St Luke's, The Long Island Philharmonic, and the New York City Ballet, and joined NYCB for their 2008 summer season in Saratoga Springs, NY. In addition to other freelance work in Manhattan, Leah is also a member of the IRIS Chamber Orchestra, in residence at the Germantown Performing Arts Center (TN) under the baton of Michael Stern. As principal violist of the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra, Leah has performed under James Levine, Bernard Haitink, and Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos.
In addition to her performing career, Leah is a freelance writer for The Strad and Strings Magazine, and works as an intern at the Weill Music Institute at Carnegie Hall, collaborating closely with several of the Institute's school and community programs. Leah is also active in organizing her own projects, and aspires to use her academic and musical backgrounds to create rich collaborations in communities and schools. Leah feels compelled to use the diverse experiences she has been blessed with to serve others, and was selected as an Albert Schweitzer Fellow for 2006-07. This opportunity allowed her to design and teach music classes in a South Boston after-school program, completing over 200 hours of community service.