Stuart Duncan, Chris Thile, Bela Fleck, Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, Mark O'Connor, Tony Rice, David Grisman, Darol Anger, Mike Marshall, Chris Eldridge, Noam Pikelny, Aubrey Haynie, Gabe Witcher, Bryan Sutton, Matt Flinner, The Infamous Stringdusters, The Del McCoury Band, David Grier, Edgar Meyer, Russ Barenberg, Tim O'Brien, Mike Compton, Billy Contreras, Vassar Clements, John Hartford, Bruce Molsky, Casey Driessen, Rushad Eggleston, Vasen, Shakti, U. Srinivas, Bill Monroe, Flatt and Scruggs, Django and Stephane, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, The Grateful Dead, Johann Sebastian Bach, Mozart, Bob Marley, Radiohead, Eric Robertson and many more.
At age 3 Dominick Leslie began chopping to the beat on a ukulele with his dad’s bluegrass band. At age 10 he purchased a Martin guitar with the Christmas and Birthday money he had been saving for years. Just one year later he picked up the mandolin and he hasn’t put it down since. By the time he was 12, he began writing his own music and practicing every day. Just a few years later at 15, he recorded his first solo CD Signs of Courage which received 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 he 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 a showcase artist at the 2006 IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Awards) in Nashville and he played at the 2007 Wintergrass Festival as part of the “Changing Face of Bluegrass”: a group of young talented teenagers including Sam Grisman, Sarah Jarosz and Alex Hargreaves. Dominick was also featured in Mike Marshall’s Young American Mandolin Ensemble this October. This was an elite group of seven young musicians who both studied and performed at the Mandolines de Lunel festival in France. He has studied with mandolin masters such as David Grisman, Chris Thile, Mike Marshall, Don Stiernberg, Andy Statman and Hamilton de Holanda at the Mandolin Symposium at the University Of Santa Cruz every year since it’s inception in 2004. His Bluegrass music roots have evolved into current interests in Jazz, Classical and other musical forms. He has led a jazz trio featuring the mandolin and is currently a member of the progressive Grant Gordy Quartet. At age 17, Dominick is 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, Friendship Bridge, the Mountain Area Land Trust, the Emily Keyes Foundation and Invisible Children. 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.
Flippen A Dom!! Finally. That is so awesome. Unfortunately I won't be in Nashville when you are there. I HATE missing the AMA's and IBMA though...SO sad. Oh well. Live it up, hopefully see you soon so we can flip out together!!
You continue to blow my mind... Ha ha really you inspire me. One of my favorites at the folk festivals! Your so much fun to watch! Hope to see you next year.. ?
Hey Dom! I hope you are doing well up there!!! Heard the weather shot you guys some sun...Stell and I are going to Ireland in June~ woot-woot! Hope ur St. Paddy's was fun and full of pickin' :)
dude, not that i can think of. il just keep learning bop heads. theres lots of cool wayne shorter tunes that are awsome like "speak no evil" and "black eyes" but just stay loyal to your real book. -hope to see you soon
Yo Dom, hows College life treating ya? It's been too long since we caught up. Hows that Gilchrist going???Awesome i'm sure. We just got back form the Caribbean which was incredible.....i have a tan again! We're playing at Berkley Cafe 939 April 30th - hope you'll b around to come and pick some. Miss ya mate Kym
