Lesley
has always been interested in making music, and by the age of 13 she
was the organist of the local Methodist Church. By 17 she had successfully
gained an ALCM diploma in piano performance. She studied for an Honours
degree in music at Belfast and then a Masters degree in Coleraine, Northern
Ireland. Whilst working for her degree she studied vocal technique with
Gwenfron Liddle (formerly of Welch National Opera).
During
this time she had residencies with The Country House Hotel, The Galgorm
Manor Hotel and The Radisson Hotel Group, as well as various freelance
work performing in the following shows:
Captain
Noah and his Floating Zoo (1991, 1997) Ocean World (1992 1998) Joseph
(1993, 1997) Oliver (1994) People of Africa (1994) Wizard of Oz (1994)
The Boyfriend (1995) My Fair Lady (1997,
1998) Fiddler On The Roof (2000).
In
1992 Lesley became Musical Director of the Church Of God in Northern
Ireland, where she developed a chamber choir – The Celebration Choir,
which has performed 20 cantatas/musicals. She created numerous original
scripts and much of the music was self-composed or self-arranged. Several
of these musicals have been performed in the Octagon Theatre at the
University of Ulster, as well as in church.
In
1998 she developed the Opus One jazz trio, performing at various corporate
events in Northern Ireland. She
has also performed as part of the Kinghan Quartet in the Riverside Theatre,
which forms part of the University Of Ulster.
In
April 1999 Lesley was employed by Page and Moy Cruises as a cocktail
pianist and Choral Director. She remained there for three years developing
choirs on board and performing daily. She has also performed on Fred
Olsen and Orient Lines ships, the following ships being included in
her credentials Ocean Majesty, Black Watch, Black Prince, Braemar, Marco
Polo and Crown Odyssey.
Lesley
has performed as a cocktail pianist in the Royal Kenz Hotel, Port El
Kantaoui, Tunisia, and is currently based in Surrey.