Katie Le Sesne (pronounced Le Sain) is a musician and string educator from Noblesville, Indiana. With a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Ball State University, and a Masters of Music in Music Education from Longy School of Music, Ms. Le Sesne finds her professional home in public school music education. She currently serves as the Orchestra Director at Noblesville West Middle School, where teaching 6th-8th grade Orchestra. Previously Ms. Le Sesne served for four years as Director of Orchestras at Concord Community Schools in Elkhart, Indiana. Ms. Le Sesne has also served as cellist and teaching artist with the Music for the Sake of Music festival in Green Bay, WI. She also was on faculty teaching improvisation and movement for young musicians at White River String Camp in Muncie, IN.
Ms. Le Sesne has been a member of the American String Teachers Association since 2011, and was named as the 2015 recipient of the Indiana ASTA Chapter's New Teacher of the year Award. Le Sesne is an active member of the National Association for Music Education, having presented for their 2023 Webinar Series on teaching music literacy to students presenting traits of Dyslexia. In sharing music education, Ms. Le Sesne has been a guest lecturer at Western Michigan University, the Ball State ASTA Chapter, and the Boston University NAfME Chapter.
Ms. Le Sesne has studied cello and violin classically. She has performed with the Ball State Symphony, East Central Indiana Chamber Orchestra, Elkhart County Symphony Orchestra, and more (including IYO in the 2004-2005 season!). While playing chamber music and with pit orchestras presents some of her favorite kinds of playing, Ms. Le Sesne also has found a passion for folk music through involvement in various fiddle camps, jams, and seminars across the world. Ms. Le Sesne currently is on the cello faculty and is a member of the organizing committee for Sierra Fiddle Camp in Nevada City, CA.
Experiences in classical and folk music have encouraged Ms. Le Sesne to bridge the gap between the two musical communities by bringing folk music and the inclusive nature of its community to her classroom through teaching. Additionally, It is her goal to give her students the tools that they need to continue creating and appreciating music outside of the classroom. This means inviting all students in to participate, and creating a safe learning environment that accesses all types of learners to unite people through experiencing music.