Abigail Leidy
Cello
2026 Fellow
Abigail Leidy, a cellist from Virginia, completed her Master of Music degree at the Yale School of Music under the tutelage of Paul Watkins, former cellist of the Emerson String Quartet, in May 2026. Previously, Abigail received her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music studying with Alan Rafferty. Prior to her undergraduate studies, Abigail was a Youth Fellow in the National Symphony Orchestra Youth Fellowship Program, where she studied with NSO cellist James Lee.
At Yale, Abigail has served as principal cellist of the Yale Philharmonia and is a member of the Yale Cellos ensemble. A dedicated chamber musician, she has participated in a wide range of collaborative projects, including side-by-side performances with the esteemed Kronos and Dover Quartets.
Abigail has performed in masterclasses for distinguished artists such as Richard Aaron, Carter Brey, Clive Greensmith, Hans Jørgen Jensen, Johannes Moser, and Gary Hoffman. Abigail has spent her summers as a fellow and scholarship recipient at festivals including the Colorado College Summer Music Festival, Christopher Rex String Quartet Fellowship, Bowdoin International Chamber Music Festival, and Ascent Cello & Chamber Music Festivals.
In addition to her performance work, Abigail is actively engaged in arts leadership and administration. She is currently studio coordinator for the Yale School of Music cello studio. As an undergraduate, she founded and served as president of the University of Cincinnati Cello Society, organizing masterclasses, concert trips, and commissioning new works for cello.
This fall, Abigail will continue her studies at the Yale School of Music, pursuing a postgraduate degree in cello performance.