Judith LeClair (born 1958), from Newark, Delaware, is an American bassoonist.
She has been the principal bassoon in the New York Philharmonic since 1981 and on the faculty at the Juilliard School since 1985. LeClair began studying the instrument at age 11 and began her professional career at the age of 15 in a performance with the Philadelphia Orchestra playing the Mozart Sinfonia Concertante with colleagues from the Settlement Music School in Philadelphia, where she studied with Shirley Curtiss. She studied bassoon with K. David van Hoesen at the Eastman School of Music and held the principal chair in the San Diego Symphony and San Diego Opera for two seasons after her graduation in 1979 before winning her position with New York.
John Williams' bassoon concerto, The Five Sacred Trees, was written for LeClair and her "unparalleled artistry." She premiered it in April 1995 as part of the New York Philharmonic's 150th anniversary festivities after having chosen him to receive the commission for the piece. She currently plays a 1937 Heckel bassoon. Her first teacher, an older student, owned the professional-level instrument; after he died in an accident at the age of 19, LeClair's parents bought the instrument from the boy's family. It remains her only instrument.
In addition to her orchestral career, LeClair is also an active chamber musician and has taught numerous masterclasses. She is married to pianist Jonathan Feldman, who is the former head of the collaborative piano department at Juilliard, where he currently teaches. She gave birth to son Gabriel at age 41. They currently live in Haworth, New Jersey.[1]
^Potter, Beth. "Haworth's Notable Characters", Haworth, New Jersey. Accessed June 22, 2010.
Philharmonic: JudithLeClair Live From Lincoln Center - Interview with JudithLeclair Bassoonist Judy LeClair: 'A family was my answer' JudithLeClair premieres...
Le Claire, LeClair, LeClaire or Leclair is a French or Francophone surname which can refer to: Antoine Le Claire (1797–1861), U.S. Army interpreter, founded...
John Williams composed The Five Sacred Trees for JudithLeClair, the principal bassoonist of the New York Philharmonic in 1995, to honor the orchestra's...
Philharmonic and principal bassoon player JudithLeClair in 1995, was recorded for Sony Classical by Williams with LeClair and the London Symphony Orchestra....
– actor, director Albert Laszlo – bassist Jacob Lateiner – pianist JudithLeClair – principal bassoonist of the New York Philharmonic Eugene Levinson...
composer Kay Lande, composer and singer William P. Latham, composer JudithLeClair, bassoonist Tony Levin, rock-fusion bassist Scott Lindroth, composer...
Kiner. 2021: Williams' Harry Potter theme briefly appears when an animated LeBron James appears dressed as Harry Potter during the Warner 3000 presentation...
original on 2023-01-11. Retrieved 2023-01-11. "John Williams, Hovhaness, JudithLeclair, London Symphony Orchestra - the Five Sacred Trees". Discogs. 1997....
(born 1952) Ron Klimko (1936–2012) Peter Kolkay Simon Kovar (1890–1970) JudithLeClair (born 1958) Tariq Masri (born 1973) Stephen Maxym (1915–2002) John Miller...
Wilmington Preston Lea (1841–1916) – businessman; Governor of Delaware JudithLeClair (born 1958) – bassoonist, New York Philharmonic; faculty, Juilliard...
Grand Maneuver (French: Les Grandes Manœuvres) is a 1955 French comedy-drama romance film written and directed by René Clair, and starring Michèle Morgan...
2008 John Holloway / Jaap ter Linden / Lars Ulrik Mortensen Jean-Marie Leclair: Sonatas ECM New Series ECM 2010 2007 Jon Balke Book of Velocities ECM...
Elsheimer, 1609 St. Peter in prison by Rembrandt, 1631 The Proposition by Judith Leyster, 1631 Magdalene with the Smoking Flame, by Georges de La Tour, c...
Louise Harry Enfield & Chums (1997–1998) – Tom's Mum / Potential Voter / Judith / Mother in Information Film Jonathan Creek (1998) – Mrs Kilby Berkeley...
Movies. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 145. ISBN 9780275983963. Benner, Judith Ann (1983), Sul Ross, Soldier, Statesman, Educator, College Station, Texas:...