J. Michael Leonard

One of the world's foremost concert saxophonists, J. Michael Leonard is a fascinating and versatile musical artist who is very active as an internationally renowned soloist appearing with orchestras and in recitals around the world. His virtuosic performances "reveal a potent technique allied with remarkable control..superlative." (Boston Globe). Michael has toured as a soloist with the St. Petersburg Glinka Capella Orchestra (which included performances at Tchaikovsky Concert Hall in Moscow) and the Ukrainian National Symphony throughout Ukraine. He has also widely concertized in countries such as England, Korea, Hong Kong, Poland, and India. His performance of the Concerto" by the Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Karel Husa, was under Dr. Husa's baton. Michael also gave the world concert premiere of Bernard Herrmann's "Prelude - A Night Piece" from the movie Taxi Driver with the Connecticut Orchestra. With over 3200 professional engagements, audiences have applauded him at Tanglewood, Aspen, Great Woods, Cirencester (UK), Cheltenham (UK), and the Kiev International Festivals. He has also been a guest artist at the Chopin Academy (Warsaw, Poland) as well as the Shostakovich and Tchaikovsky Conservatories of Music in Kiev, Ukraine. Michael has also performed extensively in jazz and popular music with such artists as Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, and The Temptations to name just a few. Since the age of 22, Michael has served as an orchestral saxophonist for the Boston Symphony and Boston Pops Orchestras. He is also a very active chamber and symphonic musician, regularly performing as a clarinetist, bass clarinetist, and flutist. Michael's interest in Celtic music has led him to perform on the Irish flute, Irish Uillean bagpipes, and the Great Highland bagpipes.