Leslie Riva-Ruppert has been a cellist in the German Symphony Orchestra Berlin since February 2003. The daughter of a paukist, Leslie Riva was born in Bordeaux. At the age of 15, she decided - after her interest in harpsichord, dance and theater - to play the cello and went to Paris to study with Philippe Barry.

Later she continued her studies in Berlin at today's University of the Arts with Wolfgang Böttcher. In addition to her studies, Riva gained orchestral experience as an intern at the Deutsche Oper and as a scholarship holder of the Karajan Academy of the Berliner Philharmoniker. In 1999, she won the Maria Canals Competition in Barcelona together with the pianist Isabel Gabbe.