Leslie La Barre, DMA is a California-based composer and conductor whose specializations include multidisciplinary collaborations, instrumental conducting, jazz, cultural musicology, and film history and scoring. Her catalogue contains works for a myriad of ensembles including original works for dance, choral, chamber ensembles, jazz band and orchestra. With a background in jazz piano, percussion, oboe and English horn, her music blends the respective elements of both jazz and classical genres. She thrives on writing kinetic music that uses distinctive aural-architectural compositional techniques. As a conductor, La Barre has directed such orchestras as the USC Thornton Symphony, Santa Clara University Orchestra, and Hollywood Symphony Orchestra.

La Barre is the Founder and Director of the Eureka! Musical Minds of California Graduate Conference. This nationally recognized multidisciplinary initiative aims to create an unprecedented environment showcasing the diverse work created in the state of California.

Commissions, honors, and fellowships include: California State University, East Bay’s 40 Under 40 Alumni Award, Kappa Alpha Theta’s 2017 Leading Women: 35 Under 35 Award, Los Angeles Film Conducting Fellow, American Composers Forum Los Angeles 2014 Composition Competition Winner, Composer-in-Residence for the Southern California Chamber Music Workshop, Conductor-in-Residence for the Oakland Summer Reading Orchestra, Society of Composers Inc. National Conference Presenter, Oregon Bach Festival Composition Symposium Fellow, C.E. and Bertha Harsh Memorial Fellow, and Glenn Glasow Memorial Fellow.