NEIL LEONARD is known for his unique approach to composition/improvisation. His ensemble has featured Marshall Allen(Director of the Sun Ra Arkestra), Bruce Barth, Don Byron, Michael Evans, Robin Eubanks, Frank Lacy, Badal Roy, Jamaaladeen Tacuma and Uri Caine. Leonard’s Dreaming of an Island, (for orchestra, electronics and live-video) was premiered by Kirk Trevor and the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra. Leonard’s composition Totems was premiered at Carnegie Hall. His Echoes and Footsteps was featured by the Tel Aviv Biennial for New Music, Issue Project Room (NYC) and the Auditorium di Roma.
Leonard’s collaborative work with visual artist Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons was featured by the 49th Venice Biennial, Museum of Modern Art (NYC); purchased by the National Gallery of Canada; and presented by the U.S. State Department at Dakar Biennial. Leonard composed the music for Relatives, by Tony Oursler and Constance DeJong featured by the Whitney Biennial. Leonard organized festivals of time based art in Rome, Venice, La Spezia, Siena, Tel Aviv, Haifa, New York and Boston.
Leonard is a professor of Electronic Production and Design at Berklee College of Music, Boston. He taught sound installation at the University of Padova and the C. Pollini Conservatory, Italy. Leonard is co-owner of Gallery Artist Studio Project GASP in Brookline and curator of Sonic Arts @ GASP.
