After teaching for one year in the Andover MA public schools, Mr. Leonard moved to Lexington High School in Lexington MA where he has been the director of bands and the jazz program from 1983 to 2017, and acting coordinator of Music Education from 1988 to 1990. He has taught Music Education courses at New England Conservatory, directed the Jazz Ensemble at Boston University, and was the music director for the musical theater productions at Boston College for three years. Since 1990, Mr. Leonard has been the conductor and contractor for the Reagle Players in Waltham. Since 1997, Mr. Leonard has been the music director of the Lexington Bicentennial Band.
Mr. Leonard is an active performer, arranger and conductor. As a saxophone and woodwind player, he performs extensively throughout New England in theaters and Boston area jazz clubs. His compositions and arrangements have been commissioned by groups in Massachusetts, Virginia, Indiana, and Maryland. As a conductor, he has made many guest conducting appearances with bands, orchestras, pit orchestras, and jazz bands around New England, including the Massachusetts and New Hampshire All-State Jazz Bands, Central District Junior and Senior Festival Band and Jazz Band, Southeastern District Senior Jazz Band, Quabbin Valley Festival Junior and Senior Bands, the University of New Hampshire Summer Youth Music School and the U. Mass Lowell Summer Music School. Mr. Leonard has worked as an adjudicator for district, state, and division festivals, for Heritage festivals and is in demand as a clinician for concert band and jazz festivals and workshops.
Mr. Leonard is a member of M.E.N.C., M.I.C.C.A., which he serves as treasurer; M.M.E.A., which he has served as a board member as well as Band and Jazz Manager and concert coordinator at the district and state levels; I.A.J.E., and the A.F. of M. He begins his tenure as the Chairman of the Northeastern District in the Fall of 2004.
email: jeffleonard@rcn.com