Leanne Sullivan
Q. When did you join SYO?
R. 1984
Q. What instruments did you play in SYO?
R. Trumpet
Q. What is your favourite memory of SYO
R. Playing Mahler 5 with Stuart Challender conducting
Q. What role does music play in your life?
R. It is not just my career but my passion as well.
Q. What is your favourite musical repertoire from the SYO performances?
R. Big orchestral works.
Q. What advice would you give young musicians today?
R. Get as much experience playing in orchestras and ensembles as you can when you are young. It is invaluable.
Leanne Sullivan lives in Sydney and enjoys the variety of freelance life where she is in constant demand as both a modern and baroque trumpeter. In Australia she has performed with many of Australia’s leading orchestras. As a player of the historical natural trumpet, Leanne has been Principal Trumpet with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra since 1995 and has performed and recorded as principal trumpet with Pinchgut Opera, Australian Classical and Romantic Orchestra, Bach Akademie Australia, Orchestra of the Antipodes and the Australian Haydn Ensemble She also occupied the position of Principal Trumpet with the Australian Chamber Orchestra for many years and continues to work with this group on the period trumpet.
On modern trumpet Leanne has performed with many of Australia’s leading orchestras including the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and West Australian Symphony Orchestra.
In 2002, Leanne was awarded the Dame Roma Mitchell Churchill Fellowship for Excellence in the Performing Arts. Under the auspices of the Fellowship, Leanne returned to Europe to further her studies in baroque trumpet. She has played on many recordings for ABC classics with Symphony Australis and the period instrument group the Orchestra of the Antipodes.
Leanne is active in a teaching role and lectures in trumpet at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and as a guest lecturer at the University of Melbourne. Other teaching engagements have included the Australian Youth Orchestra and Sydney Youth Orchestras.