Dominick Leslie

At age 3 Dominick Leslie began chopping to the beat on a ukulele with his Dad’s bluegrass band, at age 10 he bought his first Martin guitar, at age 11 he picked up the mandolin and hasn’t put it down since. By the time Dominick was 12 he began writing his own music, and he recorded his first solo CD “Signs of Courage” at 15, receiving rave reviews from “Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine”. He placed first in the 2004 Rockygrass Mandolin Contest at age 14 becoming the youngest contestant ever to win and placed second in the 2005 and 2006 Merlefest Mandolin Contests at ages 15 and 16.Dominick’s original recordings have been featured in the Colorado Bluegrass Music Society’s (CBMS) 2006 and 2007 CD Compilations, He was showcased in the 2006 IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) in Nashville and in the 2007 Wintergrass Festival, the “Changing Face of Bluegrass.” with his group of other talented teens including Sam Grisman on bass. He will be featured in The Young American Mandolin Ensemble, an elite group of 7 teens who will study and perform at the Mandoline de Lunel in France this fall; a convergence of world class mandolinists put together by Mike Marshall. He has studied extensively with mandolin masters David Grisman, Chris Thile, Mike Marshall, Don Stiernberg, Andy Statman and Hamilton de Holanda at the Mandolin Symposium at the University Of Santa Cruz, California every year since it’s inception in 2004. His bluegrass music roots have evolved into current interests in Classical and Jazz. He has led a jazz trio featuring the mandolin and is currently a member of the progressive Grant Gordy Quartet.At age 17, Dominick will be a senior at Evergreen High School where he has achieved high academic success in the honors program. He has made an extensive contribution to Community Service through nonprofit benefit concerts for many organizations such as The Red Cross Katrina Hurricane Relief, Friendship Bridge, the Mountain Area Land Trust, the Emily Keyes Foundation and the 2007 National Boy Scout Jamboree.Whether writing a new piece, learning a favorite tune or joining a hero on stage, Dominick will always share his love of music with others and enjoy playing the mandolin. Dominick eagerly anticipates his future creating music, playing and performing with his friends and heroes and pursuing his dream of a lifelong career in music.