Leslie Straka

Leslie Straka is Professor of Viola and Chamber Music at the University of Oregon's School of Music and Dance, concurrently serving as Director of the Community Music Institute and Associate Dean of Graduate Studies. She joined the faculty in 1987 and chaired the String Department from 1993 to 2006.

Her academic credentials include a DMA (1987), MMus (1978), and BMus (1976), all earned at Arizona State University under viola pedagogues William Magers, Walter Trampler, Paul Doktor, and Donald McInnes, with masterclasses by Gregor Piatigorsky and Max Rostal.

Straka's research and performance focus centers on viola technique, chamber music interpretation, and community music engagement through her leadership of the Community Music Institute. Her work bridges academic performance practice with public music education initiatives.

Her competitive accolades include:

• First Place, 1978 Collegiate Artist Competition of the Arizona Music Teachers Association
• First Place, National Federation of Music Clubs Competition

As artistic director of the Oregon String Quartet since 1987, she has recorded two critically acclaimed CDs for Koch International Classics featuring jazz-influenced quartets and works by William Grant Still, while maintaining an international performance schedule across major festivals including Oregon Bach Festival and York Festival.