Staff Sergeant Christopher Leslie, originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, joined the West Point Band in September of 2016. He has garnered numerous accolades in his performing career, winning prestigious competitions such as the Leonard Falcone International Euphonium Competition, the ITEA Solo Competition, and the United States Army Band National Collegiate Solo Competition. Staff Sgt. Leslie is a frequent soloist across the country and has performed with the United States Army Band "Pershing's Own," the Indiana University Wind Ensemble, the University of Georgia Wind Ensemble, and the St. Olaf Orchestra. He has served as both a featured soloist and guest conductor with the West Point Band. His solo recordings have received national acclaim, winning ITEA's Roger Bobo Award for Recording Excellence as well as two silver medals from the Global Music Awards.
Staff Sgt. Leslie earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from St. Olaf College, a Master of Music in euphonium performance and Performer's Certificate from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, and a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Georgia. His mentors include David Zerkel, Daniel Perantoni, Hiram Diaz, and David Werden.
In his spare time, Staff Sgt. Leslie enjoys watching baseball, football, and college basketball, and dreams of one day seeing a Cincinnati sports team win a postseason series.
