Claire Leslie-Turnbull is a flutist and singer-songwriter from the Eastern Townships of Quebec, where the region’s rich Irish, French Canadian and Scottish cultural heritage inspire her music. A dynamic performer, she has been playing the flute since the age of two and has built a versatile career spanning classical, folk and traditional music, all with the distinctive voice of her silver flute. Alongside guitarist and collaborator, Zach Bachand, her performances feature arrangements of traditional tunes and original songs, blending her classical training with the rich storytelling traditions of folk and trad music.
Claire has studied with internationally renowned flutists, including Sir James Galway and William Bennett. She holds a Master’s degree of Music Education from the Longy School of Music (2022), a Graduate Diploma in Orchestral Repertoire from the Université de Montréal (2020), and a Bachelor of Music in Orchestral Performance from McGill University (2019), where she received the graduation award for outstanding achievement in flute performance.
A member of the 2021 Global Leaders Program Cohort, Claire received the Sector Innovation Prize as a Hildegard Behrens Global Humanitarian Laureate for her advocacy project promoting music therapy and public health. She has performed with orchestras, chamber ensembles, and bands at festivals and concert series across Canada, including Festival de musique de chambre du Lac Baker, Flourish Festival, Paddlefest, Boxwood Festival, the Galway Flute Festival, Moncton’s International Women’s Day celebrations, and Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival. She has also served as an artist-in-residence at Festival de musique de chambre du Lac Baker and most recently appeared as featured soloist with Orchestre Fidelio in Montréal.
As a flute instructor and workshop leader, Claire has taught privately for more than 10 years. She worked as a faculty member and orchestra manager for the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra, taught at Sistema New Brunswick, Orkidstra, East State Tennessee Suzuki Institute, Great Lakes Suzuki Institute and National Music Camp. Claire has also worked as the Director of Operations, Development, and Communications at Denis Brott’s internationally-renowned Montreal Chamber Music Festival. She currently works as a Programs Coordinator for MusiCounts, Music Education Charity of Canada.
Great Lakes Suzuki Summer Institute, 2002.
“Every child can learn to experience and express music and art deeply, can receive its many benefits, and can make healthier critical life choices as a result of this learning”
Teaching Philosophy:
Philosophy. With my extensive training, I am committed to helping my students achieve their personal goals by incorporating a nurturing, exciting, and encouraging environment for them to develop endurance, agency, sensitivity, and tap into their musical identity. Each lesson will be perfectly tailored to the student’s learning style, age, and level, everybody is unique. I follow the Suzuki Method in my studio while enabling cultural responsiveness, accessibility, and giving space for students to explore. All while developing a very good ear! I follow this philosophy in order to reinforce a student’s individuality, empower, inspire, and build meaningful and long-lasting relationships between myself the student, and their caregiver(s). Visit my lessons page if you’re interested in joining my studio.
Access and Purpose Everyone should have the option and access to music education. In most cases, music education is geared toward higher-income families for a variety of reasons. But all children and families should have access because of the social-emotional benefits -- group music-making, the positive effect on school attendance and performance -- and the rigor of practice on their instrument, to name a few. The hidden curriculum within music lessons can give students a more diverse skillset for a successful trajectory in life, whatever they may define that as.
Claire has had the opportunity to study with some of the world’s most renowned flutists, performers, and educators and she is so excited to pass on that knowledge to my students. She began studying the flute over 20 years ago under the tutelage of Suzuki flute teacher and trainer, David Gerry at the Great Lakes Suzuki Institute. Visit her music page to hear more about the projects she has been involved in.
Great Lakes Suzuki Summer Institute, 2005.