Leah Paul

About Leah Paul

Navigating between jazz, experimental and contemporary music with confidence and authority” Leah began her music career in Brooklyn, NY in 2002 after studying flute performance at the University of Michigan. Leah is the creator of Sweet Potato Music, a music program for children ages 0-5 featuring all original music with a focus on childhood development and musical skill building. As a flutist, Leah has played a vital role in NYC’s new music and downtown scenes. She has been a longtime member of Matthew Welch’s Blarvuster, recently performing his new opera Borges and the Other at Roulette, as well as playing on his Tzadik release Blarvuster. In 2010 Leah recorded with Anthony Braxton’s Triilium E Orchestra as a soloist, the first-ever Braxton opera studio recording. Leah has also recorded and performed with countless bands and ensembles such as TV on the Radio, the Dirty Projectors, Milagres, Michael Leonhart, Aaron Seigel and City Center. Leah Paul’s 2011 release of her works for quartet Bike Lane, on Brooklyn’s Improvisation/new music label Skirl Records has been met with enthusiasm and praise. Bike Lane is a collection of composed music for flute, clarinet, bassoon and viola. The inspiration for this album is the ever-merging scenes of classical, improvised, and rock music that are unique to New York City. It is composed chamber music channeling pop structure, with an improvisational spirit and feel. Peter Margasak of eMusic says “…while operating like a sophisticated chamber ensemble, the quartet reveals a wonderfully fluid, graceful pop sensibility. There’s nothing cheap or shallow about the music, but the themes lodge in the memory like radio hits.” Leah’s earlier projects include the Bridesmaids, a chamber pop group which received acclaim from TimeOutNY, the Big Takeover and Venuszine. Currently Leah is currently living in the Silverlake area of Los Angeles, and recently debuted a new woodwind quintet at Barbes in Brooklyn, and the Underground Garage Series in Santa Monica. New works also include a piece for Concert Band, and an in-progress sextet for flute, alto flute, clarinet, bassoon, viola and cello.

Experience

1. Flute Teacher Orchestra Assistant-director

   Harmony Project

   Jul 2012 — Present · Los Angeles, CA, US

Education

• University of Michigan

  Bachelor of Musical Arts

• University of Michigan

  Bachelor of Musical Arts, Flute Performance

  1999 — 2002

• University of Michigan

  Bachelor of Musical Arts

  1998 — 2002