Isabel Lepanto Gleicher is an acclaimed flutist, composer, and visual artist, lauded by The New York Times as “excellent,” with composer John Zorn describing her as “inspiring” and “stunningly musical.” As an artist member of several new music ensembles, including the International Contemporary Ensemble, Wild Up, and Ensemble Echappe, she has made a significant impact in the contemporary music scene and is also a member of the conductorless orchestra One Found Sound, newly appointed flutist of the Sylvan Winds, and the hip-hop band ShoutHouse.
Her performances span prestigious events like the MET Gala with Lizzo, NPR’s Tiny Desk, Lincoln Center Summer for the City, and festivals such as Big Ears, Guggenheim Museum’s Works and Process Series, TME:SPANS, SONIC MATTER, Sacrum Profanum, and the premiere of TV show Power season 5 with 50 Cent. Her repertoire includes premieres of works by notable composers like Missy Mazzoli, Nathalie Joachim, Du Yun, Steve Reich, Jon Batiste, Beat Furrer, and John Zorn.
Isabel’s compositional style blends composed and improvised elements through graphic and text notation, reflecting the synergy between her musical and visual arts practices. She has curated solo performances for Miller Theatre’s Pop Up series, Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival, Experimental Sound Studio, and the ChamberQUEERantine Virtual Festival, contributing to the Metropolis ensemble’s live-streaming installation, Flame Keepers. You can hear Isabel on numerous recordings, including Wild Up’s Grammy-nominated albums Julius Eastman Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, Anna Thorvaldsdottir’s Aequa, synth driven post-rock band Infinity Shred’s Shred Offline, and Indie rock band San Fermin’s The Cormorant and Jackrabbit.
An enthusiastic educator, she serves as flute professor at SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Music and has previously taught for the New York Philharmonic Education and American Composers Orchestra.
In the summer of 2023, Isabel (Izzy) competed on CBS’s Big Brother season 25 and returned for redemption on The Amazing Race season 38 in the fall of 2025. For more about her work, visit Isabel’s website: www.izzymakesart.com