Lea Helsel is a senior from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and is a member of several ensembles at Eastman including Harmonie, Horn Choir, Bells N’ Roses horn quartet and the Alvum Animo brass quintet. Outside of Eastman she is a substitute musician with ensembles such as the Rochester Philharmonic, Wheeling Symphony, Pittsburgh Ballet Theater Orchestra and Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. In Summer 2025 Helsel and her quintet Alvum Animo will be attending the prestigious Aspen Music Festival to work with the American Brass Quintet. She will also be touring Mexico with the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra under the direction of Ben Zander.