Artists

Dr. Leslie Odom is Associate Professor of Oboe and Music Theory at the University of Florida. Her teachers include Richard Killmer (Eastman School of Music), James Lakin (University of Iowa), Malcolm Smith, (Butler University), and Marion Gibson (Principal Oboe, Louisville Symphony Orchestra). Dr. Odom received her Bachelor of Music in Oboe Performance from Butler University, in Indianapolis, Indiana; her Master of Music in Music Theory and her Doctorate of Musical Arts in Oboe Performance from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester New York. She also received the coveted Performer’s Certificate during her doctoral work. Dr. Odom was Principal Oboe on the CBS Masterworks recording (1988) with the Eastman Wind Ensemble. She was awarded first runner-up in the Graduate Performance Competition during the National Convention of Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity held at Tucson Arizona in 1988. Prior to moving to Gainesville, Dr. Odom performed with the Indianapolis Symphony, as Principal Oboe with the Indianapolis Opera Company, the Quad Cities Symphony (Davenport, Iowa) and as Principal Oboe with the Cedar Rapids IA, Symphony. Since moving to Gainesville in 1989, Dr. Odom has performed with the Jacksonville, FL, Symphony, as Principal Oboe with the Flagler (Florida) Symphony, and is currently Principal Oboe of the Gainesville Orchestra. Dr. Odom is an active performer in Europe, South America, and Canada. She attended both the Aspen and Tanglewood Music Festivals, was a Guest Artist in Residence at the Banff, Canada, Centre for the Arts, and worked as a faculty member at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan. A member of the International Double Reed Society, Dr. Odom regularly performs at the Society’s Annual Conferences. Along with performing, Dr. Odom writes reviews of music and compact disks for the Society’s Journal. She is also a member of Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity, currently serving her second term as National President.

Kirk O'Riordan (b. 1968) is an active composer, conductor, saxophonist, and teacher. Performances of his music have been featured at festivals and conferences across the United States and Europe and have been recorded on the ERM-Media and EnF labels.

O'Riordan's music has been referred to as "unapologetically beautiful" and is often praised for its uniquely "visual" qualities, which depict a wide range of striking moods. Recent projects have included commissions from AVIDduo and the Lafayette College Percussion Ensemble; a new work for wind ensemble; and performances at the World Saxophone Congress in St. Andrews, Scotland; the Alvin Ailey Theater (New York); and in the Czech Republic. He is currently composing an opera with author Lee Upton.

Since 2009, O'Riordan has been a member of the faculty at Lafayette College (Easton PA) where he teaches courses in music composition, theory, and serves as conductor of the Lafayette College Concert Band. He holds degrees in composition, conducting, and saxophone performance from Arizona State University, Northwestern University, Indiana University, Bowling Green State University, and the University of Denver.

O'Riordan has studied composition with Rodney Rogers, Randall Shinn, Glenn Hackbarth, James De Mars, Burton Beerman, Donald M. Wilson, and Marilyn Shrude. His saxophone teachers include Frederick L. Hemke, Eugene Rousseau, and John Sampen.

www.kirkoriordan.com