Abigail Leidy began her musical studies at six years old and cello studies at age nine. She currently studies under Neal Cary, principal cellist of the Richmond Symphony and Julian Schwarz, Asst. Professor of Cello at the Shenandoah Conservatory. As a member of the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra from 2015 to present, Abigail has served as principal and assistant principal cellist. She attended the Eastern Music Festival in 2017 and 2018. Abigail won the Eastern Music Festival Concerto Competition in 2018 and was selected in the Piedmont Symphony Young Artist Concerto Competition to perform with them last season. She received praise for her beautiful, powerful tone, mature musicality and interpretation, and confident stage presence. A Junior in the Commonwealth Governor’s School at Riverbend H.S. in Spotsylvania, Virginia, Abigail was a member of the All Virginia Orchestra, North Central Virginia Regional Orchestras, Spotsylvania All-County Orchestras, and her school orchestras. In addition to her cello studies, Abigail enjoys drawing and writing. Abigail plans to study cello performance in pursuit of a career in music.
