Kimberly Zaleski
Kimberly Zaleski is the newly appointed Third Flute and Piccoloist with the Toledo Symphony Orchestra and will officially join the ensemble this fall. At just fifteen, she made history as the first piccoloist to appear on the nationally broadcast radio show From the Top. She currently serves as Principal Flutist of the Firelands Symphony Orchestra and Second Flutist with CityMusic Cleveland Chamber Orchestra, and has performed with a wide range of prestigious ensembles including The Cleveland Orchestra, The Cleveland Pops Orchestra, Erie Philharmonic, and Akron Symphony.
As the touring flutist for five-time Grammy nominee David Arkenstone, Kimberly has captivated audiences across the United States. Notable performances include appearances at The GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles and the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, Arizona. Her artistry is also featured on Arkenstone’s recent albums Fairy Fantasy and Quest for the Runestone.
Kimberly’s formative training included private study with Renée Siebert, former Second Flutist of the New York Philharmonic, during her high school years. She went on to study at the Juilliard School’s Pre-College Division before earning her Bachelor’s degree at The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University, where she was a student of internationally acclaimed flutist Marina Piccinini. She completed her Master’s degree at The Cleveland Institute of Music under the guidance of Joshua Smith, Principal Flute of The Cleveland Orchestra.
A passionate educator, Kimberly is Senior Lecturer in Flute at The University of Akron. She has presented masterclasses and performances at institutions including Arizona State University and Penn State University, and is a Performing and Teaching Artist with the Center for Arts-Inspired Learning.