is Third Horn of the New York Philharmonic and serves on the horn faculty of New York University. She grew up in Michigan where her earliest musical memories were listening to Mom’s community band and classical public radio with Dad. Despite having her arm (gently) twisted into playing horn instead of saxophone, she fell in love with it. Summer music camps and Interlochen Arts Academy opened the door to music as a career. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master’s from the Yale School of Music. She is indebted to her teachers, Julie Schleif, Douglas Hill, and Bill Purvis, for their gifts of mentorship.
Leelanee has made solo appearances at Carnegie Hall, several International Horn Symposia, and has presented recitals and masterclasses around the U.S. She has performed as guest principal horn with the London, San Francisco, and Detroit symphony orchestras and the Philadelphia Orchestra. An advocate for works by women composers, she can be heard on the world-premiere recording of Fernande Breihl-Decruck’s Poëme Héroïque for trumpet, horn, and orchestra. Among her proudest accomplishments is completing the New York City Marathon twice.