Throughout his life in music, cellist Evan Leslie has aspired to be an increasingly versatile artist. Evan performs comfortably in a wide variety of styles, from authentic early music to boundary-breaking new music. Evan has performed in music festivals and institutes in Italy, Canada, and throughout the United States. Based in Houston, Texas, Evan has been featured on the Hobby Center’s Uniquely Houston Series, the St. Luke’s Seraphim Series, chamber music concerts at the University of St. Thomas and the University of Houston. Evan also enjoys performing in the cello sections of the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra and the Symphony of Southeast Texas. In the summer of 2010, Evan will be performing as a member of the Red River String Quartet, resident string quartet of the Grand Teton Music Festival. As a student, Evan worked with many of music’s most luminary artists and teachers, including Mischa Maisky, Lynn Harrell, Ko Iwasaki, Colin Carr, and Christina Mahler. Most significantly, Evan was one of four American cellists selected to perform for Mstislav Rostropovich at the seventh American Cello Congress.
Evan teaches cello at the University of St. Thomas and for the Preparatory and Continuing Studies Department of the University of Houston Moores School of Music. Evan is a past faculty member of Houston's High School for the Performing and Visual Arts Evan often works with school districts, including Houston ISD, Klein ISD, and Humble ISD, to help integrate music and art into their curricula.
Evan Leslie earned a Master of Music degree from Rice University and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Houston Moores School, where he graduated summa cum laude. His primary teachers include Diane Bucchianeri, Vagram Saradjian, and, Houston Symphony Principal cellist, Brinton Smith.