Leslye Barrett, '96 MM
Performance
Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts
Virginia
She supported nine Commandants of the Marine Corps, five commanders in chief-to include seven inaugurations and three state funerals-and innumerable official White House functions. After 29 years in the Marine Band, Co-Principal Oboe Master Gunnery Sgt. Leslye Barrett has retired from "The President's Own."
Barrett of Liberty, Missouri, joined "The President's Own" United States Marine Band in February 1997. She began her musical training on the piano and as a soprano vocalist before starting oboe at age 11. She graduated from Interlochen Arts Academy in 1990 before attending Southern Methodist University, where she graduated in 1994 with a bachelor's degree in oboe performance and a minor in political science.
In 1996, she received a master's degree in oboe performance from Arizona State University. Noteworthy teachers include John Stolper at Interlochen, Eric Barr at Southern Methodist, and Martin Schuring at Arizona State.
Prior to joining "The President's Own," Barrett performed with Broadway Across America, Quintessence Chamber Ensemble, the Arizona Opera Company, and Phoenix Symphony throughout 1996-97. She was also the oboe instructor at the Bay View Music Festival in Bay View, Michigan, in 1996.
Barrett performed on 28 Marine Band albums and more than 1,000 concerts. She traveled through the lower 48 states while performing with the band on 18 national concert tours. In a formal ceremony on Friday, Feb. 6, Barrett stood before friends, family members and fellow Marines as they celebrated her illustrious Marine Band career.
As co-principal oboe, Barrett held one of the most influential musical billets in the organization. Within the oboe section, she performed in the full range of ensembles within the Marine Band, including the concert band, orchestra and chamber groups. Her solos with "The President's Own" included Johann Wilhelm Hertel's Concerto in E-flat for Trumpet and Oboe, Ottorino Respighi's Concerto a cinque, John Corigliano's Oboe Concerto, Heitor Villa-Lobos' Concerto Grosso for Woodwind Quartet and Wind Orchestra, Joseph Haydn's Sinfonia Concertante and Robert Russell Bennett's Concerto Grosso for Solo Woodwind Quintet. Barrett has left an indelible legacy and imprint on the sound of the Marine Band and Marine Chamber Orchestra.
Fair Winds and Following Seas, Master Gunnery Sgt. Barrett.
Story sumbitted on behalf of Master Gunnery Sgt. Leslye Barrett, by Staff Sgt. Caitlin Pool.