Jonathan Leshnoff (born September 8, 1973) is an American classical music composer and

pedagogue Pedagogy (), most commonly understood as the approach to teaching, is the theory and practice of learning, and how this process influences, and is influenced by, the social, political, and psychological development of learners. Pedagogy, taken ...

Early life and education

Jonathan Leshnoff was born in

New Brunswick, New Jersey New Brunswick is a city (New Jersey), city in and the county seat of Middlesex County, New Jersey, Middlesex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.Johns Hopkins University The Johns Hopkins University (often abbreviated as Johns Hopkins, Hopkins, or JHU) is a private university, private research university in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Founded in 1876 based on the European research institution model, J ...

and

Peabody Conservatory The Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University is a private music and dance conservatory and preparatory school in Baltimore, Maryland. Founded in 1857, it became affiliated with Johns Hopkins in 1977. History Philanthropist and ...

concurrently, earning bachelor's degrees in Anthropology and Music Composition, respectively. He went on to receive a Master’s of Music from Peabody, then received his Doctorate of Music from the

University of Maryland The University of Maryland, College Park (University of Maryland, UMD, or simply Maryland) is a public land-grant research university in College Park, Maryland, United States. Founded in 1856, UMD is the flagship institution of the Univ ...

. Leshnoff was raised observing

Conservative Judaism Conservative Judaism, also known as Masorti Judaism, is a Jewish religious movements, Jewish religious movement that regards the authority of Jewish law and tradition as emanating primarily from the assent of the people through the generations ...

. During his student years at

Johns Hopkins Johns Hopkins (May 19, 1795 – December 24, 1873) was an American merchant, investor, and philanthropist. Born on a plantation, he left his home to start a career at the age of 17, and settled in Baltimore, Maryland, where he remained for mos ...

, he delved deeper into his beliefs and began to practice

Orthodox Judaism Orthodox Judaism is a collective term for the traditionalist branches of contemporary Judaism. Theologically, it is chiefly defined by regarding the Torah, both Torah, Written and Oral Torah, Oral, as literally revelation, revealed by God in Ju ...

Career

Leshnoff lives in

Baltimore, Maryland Baltimore is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the List of United States ...

, where he composes and is a professor of music at

Towson University Towson University (TU or Towson) is a public university in Towson, Maryland, United States. Founded in 1866 as Maryland's first training school for teachers, Towson University is a part of the University System of Maryland. Since its foundin ...

. He has composed scores of works, including four string quartets, four oratorios, twelve concerti, and four symphonies. His compositions have been performed by more than eighty orchestras worldwide including the

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) is an American orchestra based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. The ASO's main concert venue is Atlanta Symphony Hall in the Woodruff Arts Center. History Though earlier organizations bearing the sam ...

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) is an American symphony orchestra based in Baltimore, Maryland. The Baltimore SO has its principal residence at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, where it performs more than 130 concerts a year. In 2005, ...

Dallas Symphony Orchestra The Dallas Symphony Orchestra (DSO) is an American orchestra based in Dallas, Texas. Its principal performing venue is the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in the Arts District, Dallas, Arts District of downtown Dallas. History The orchestra tr ...

Kansas City Symphony The Kansas City Symphony (KCS) is an American symphony orchestra based in Kansas City, Missouri. The orchestra is resident at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. The orchestra performs a 42-week season, and is also the accompanying o ...

Nashville Symphony Orchestra The Nashville Symphony is an American symphony orchestra, based in Nashville, Tennessee. The orchestra is resident at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. History In 1920, prior to the 1946 founding of the Nashville Symphony, a group of amateur an ...

Philadelphia Orchestra The Philadelphia Orchestra is an American symphony orchestra, based in Philadelphia. One of the " Big Five" American orchestras, the orchestra is based at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, where it performs its subscription concerts, n ...

, and

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (PSO) is an American orchestra based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The orchestra is resident at Heinz Hall, located in Pittsburgh's Cultural District. Since 2008, the orchestra's music director is Manfred Ho ...

, among many others. Leshnoff's compositions have also been premiered by soloists including violinist

Gil Shaham Gil Shaham (Hebrew: גיל שחם; born February 19, 1971) is an American violinist. His accolades include a Grammy Award in 1999, and he has performed as a soloist with such orchestras as the New York Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic, Vienna P ...

, violist Roberto Díaz, cellist Johannes Moser, guitarist

Manuel Barrueco Manuel Barrueco (born December 16, 1952) is a Cuban classical guitarist resident in the United States. Biography Born in Santiago de Cuba, Barrueco began playing the guitar at the age of eight. Following the 1959 Cuban revolution, Barrueco's f ...

, and pianist Joyce Yang. Notable recent commissions include his Clarinet Concerto (2015), the

oratorio An oratorio () is a musical composition with dramatic or narrative text for choir, soloists and orchestra or other ensemble. Similar to opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an instrumental ensemble, various distinguisha ...

''Zohar'' (2015), the Violin Concerto No. 2 (2017), and his 2019 Piano Concerto. The Clarinet Concerto was jointly commissioned by the

and the Santa Barbara Symphony Orchestra, and premiered in April 2016 in Philadelphia with principal clarinetist

Ricardo Morales Ricardo Morales may refer to: * Ricardo Morales (musician) (born 1972), American clarinetist * Ricardo Morales (tennis) (1907–2007), Cuban professional tennis player * Ricardo Morales (intelligence agent) Ricardo Morales Navarrete (June 14, 1939 ...

under Music Director

Yannick Nézet-Séguin Yannick Nézet-Séguin, CC (; born Yannick Séguin;David Patrick Stearns, "Nezet-Seguin signs Philadelphia Orchestra contract". ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'', 19 June 2010. 6 March 1975) is a Canadian conductor and pianist. He is the music dir ...

. ''Zohar'' was co-commissioned by

Carnegie Hall Carnegie Hall ( ) is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It is at 881 Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh Avenue, occupying the east side of Seventh Avenue between 56th Street (Manhattan), 56th and 57th Street (Manhattan), 57t ...

and the

, premiered under conductor

Robert Spano Robert Spano ( ; born 7 May 1961) is an American conductorDavidson, Justin. "Classical Music: Looking for Magic: Mixing visuals and language into a performance is just part of conductor Robert Spano's pursuit of orchestral risk" (Fanfare); ''Ne ...

in April 2016, and subsequently recorded by that ensemble. The

and

Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra The Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra (HSO) is an American orchestra based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, US. The Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra can be traced back to the early 1930s during the throes of the Great Depression. The orchestra gave its firs ...

co-commissioned Leshnoff’s second violin concerto, and Dallas premiered the work featuring soloist Alexander Kerr in May 2018 at

Jaap van Zweden Jaap van Zweden (; born 12 December 1960) is a Dutch conductor and violinist. He is currently music director of the Seoul Philharmonic and music director-designate of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France. Biography Van Zweden was bo ...

's final concert as music director of that orchestra. It has since been recorded by

Noah Bendix-Balgley Noah Bendix-Balgley (born July 15, 1984) is an American classical violinist. He is currently First Concertmaster with the Berliner Philharmoniker. He served as concertmaster of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra from 2011 to 2014. Biography and ...

and the

Oklahoma City Philharmonic The Oklahoma City Philharmonic is an American symphony orchestra in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. History As is the case with many United States, American symphony orchestras, the Oklahoma City Philharmonic owes a degree of its heritage to two pred ...

on a 2023

Naxos Naxos (; , ) is a Greek island belonging to the Cyclades island group. It is the largest island in the group. It was an important centre during the Bronze Age Cycladic Culture and in the Ancient Greek Archaic Period. The island is famous as ...

album. In November 2019, Joyce Yang premiered his Piano Concerto with the

and Music Director Michael Stern; it was subsequently released on the Reference Recordings label. While a large portion of his work is orchestral, Leshnoff has composed for many chamber ensembles and symphonic bands. The

United States Marine Band The United States Marine Band is the premier band of the United States Marine Corps. Established by act of Congress on July 11, 1798, it is the oldest of the United States military bands and the oldest professional musical organization in the ...

commissioned a Symphony for Winds to mark the 225th anniversary of that ensemble in 2023; it had previously recorded a transcription of Leshnoff's Clarinet Concerto on its 2017 album ''Arioso''. The

United States Navy Band The United States Navy Band, based at the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., has served as the official musical organization of the U.S. Navy since 1925. The U.S. Navy Band serves the ceremonial needs at the seat of U.S. government, pe ...

US Air Force Band The United States Air Force Band is a U.S. military band consisting of 184 active-duty members of the United States Air Force. It is the Air Force's premier musical organization and is based at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C. Wi ...

Frost School of Music Phillip and Patricia Frost School of Music is the music school at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. From 1926 to 2003, it was known as University of Miami School of Music. Academics and programs The University of Miami's Frost ...

Band and

Symphonic Band have also performed his band works. Leshnoff has taught at

for over twenty years on subjects including orchestration, contemporary music history, music entrepreneurship, and theory. He was the 2013 recipient of the University System of Maryland Regents Award in Scholarship, recognizing a select faculty member from the

system for significant publication profile. The composer has entrusted all of his manuscripts to the special collections archive at Towson's Cook Library.

Awards and recognition

In late 2019, a

Nashville Symphony The Nashville Symphony is an American symphony orchestra, based in Nashville, Tennessee. The orchestra is resident at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. History In 1920, prior to the 1946 founding of the Nashville Symphony, a group of amateur a ...

album featuring Leshnoff's works, including his fourth symphony (commissioned by that orchestra in collaboration with the Violins of Hope), was nominated for a

GRAMMY Award for Best Classical Compendium The Grammy Award for Best Classical Compendium is an honor presented to recording artists for the best compendium album in the classical music genre at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and which was originally called the ...

. In an independent study, the

found Leshnoff to be among the ten most performed living composers internationally (tied for 7th) among American orchestras in the 2015–2016 season.

Selected works

Leshnoff's catalog includes roughly eighty works to date, including four symphonies, fourteen concerti, and five oratorios. Many of his scores are available from the music publisher and distributor

Theodore Presser Company The Theodore Presser Company is an American music publishing and distribution company located in Malvern, Pennsylvania, formerly King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, and originally based in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. It is the oldest continuing music p ...

. * Symphony No. 1, ''Forgotten Chants and Refrains'' (2004) * Violin Concerto No. 1 (2005) * Double Concerto for Violin, Viola, and Orchestra (2007) * ''Rush'' (2008) * ''Starburst'' (2010) * Concerto for Two Percussionists and Orchestra (2011) * ''Hope,'' oratorio (2011) * Cello Concerto (2012) * Symphony No. 2, ''Innerspace'' (2014) * ''Zohar,'' oratorio (2015) * Chamber Concerto for Violin and Orchestra (2015) * Symphony No. 3 (2015) * Clarinet Concerto, ''Nekudim'' (2015) * Symphony No. 4, ''Heichalos'' (2017) * Violin Concerto No. 2 (2017) * Piano Concerto (2019) * ''Of Thee I Sing,'' for chorus and orchestra (2020) * Symphony for Winds (2023)

Discography

* Reference Recordings FR-738: Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4; Leshnoff: Double Concerto for Clarinet and Bassoon.

;

Manfred Honeck Manfred Honeck (born 17 September 1958, in Nenzing) is an Austrian conductor. He is currently the music director of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Early life Honeck was born in Nenzing, Austria, near the border with Switzerland and Liechte ...

, conductor; Michael Rusinek, clarinet; Nancy Goeres, bassoon. *

8.559809: Leshnoff: Symphony No. 4, ''Heichalos''; Guitar Concerto; ''Starburst''.

;

Giancarlo Guerrero Giancarlo Guerrero (born March 14, 1969) is a Costa Rican orchestra conductor, born in Nicaragua. He is currently music director of the Nashville Symphony and music director-designate of the Sarasota Orchestra, and artistic director and princip ...

, conductor;

Jason Vieaux Jason Vieaux (born July 17, 1973, in Buffalo, New York) is an American classical guitarist. He began his musical training in Buffalo, New York at the age of eight, after which he continued his studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music. In 1992, ...

, guitar. * Naxos 8.559398, “American Classics” series: Leshnoff: Violin Concerto o. 1 String Quartet No. 1, "Pearl German"; ''Distant Reflections.'' Baltimore Chamber Orchestra;

Markand Thakar Markand Thakar (born 1955, New York City) is an American conductor anmusic director emeritusof the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra (BCO). Biography From the age of six, Markand Thakar attended the Juilliard School's Pre-College Division, where he was ...

, conductor; Charles Wetherbee, violin; Carpe Diem String Quartet. * Reference Recordings FR-739: Leshnoff: Symphony No. 3; Piano Concerto.

; Michael Stern, conductor; Joyce Yang, pianist; Stephen Powell, baritone. * Naxos 8.559670, “American Classics” series: Leshnoff: Symphony No. 1, ''Forgotten Chants and Refrains''; Double Concerto for Violin and Viola; ''Rush.'' IRIS Orchestra; Michael Stern, conductor; Charles Wetherbee, violin; Roberto Díaz, viola. * Naxos 8.559721, “American Classics” series: ''Jonathan Leshnoff: Chamber Music'' tring Quartet No. 2, "Edelmann"; ''Seven Glances at a Mirage; Cosmic Variations on a Haunted Theme; Without a Chance'' Carpe Diem String Quartet; various artists. * MSR Classics 1765: Leshnoff: String Quartet No. 3, "Miller Kahn"; String Quartet No. 4; Four Dances. Carpe Diem String Quartet. * MSR Classics 1155: Haydn, ''et al.'' Works for Trumpet and Organ. Includes Leshnoff, ''Cosmic Echoes.'' Steven Hendrickson, trumpet; William Neil, organ. * ASO Media CD-1008: ''Zohar''; Symphony No. 2, ''Innerspace.''

and Chorus;

, conductor; Jessica Rivera, soprano;

Nmon Ford Nmon Ford is an opera singer. He earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music. In June 2013, Ford sang the title role in Ernest Bloch's opera, ''Macbeth'', at the Long Beach Opera ...

, baritone. * USMB CD-33: ''Arioso.'' Includes Leshnoff, Clarinet Concerto, ''Nekudim.''

; Col.

Jason K. Fettig Jason K. Fettig (born 1974) is a band director, conductor, and former United States Marine, Marine colonel who currently works as Director of Bands at the University of Michigan. Before his hiring, he served as the 28th director of the United S ...

, conductor;

, guest clarinet. * Naxos 8.579137: ''Berkeley, Brahms, Leshnoff: Horn Trios.'' David Cooper, horn;

Alexander Kerr Alexander John Henry Kerr (2 December 1892 – 4 December 1964) was an English Engineering officer (ship), marine engineer and wholesale newsagent. He is best known for his service in the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914–1916, for ...

, violin;

Orion Weiss Orion Weiss (born November 8, 1981) is an American classical pianist. Academia Weiss began his musical studies at thPreucil School of Music in Iowa City, Iowa When his family moved to Lyndhurst, Ohio, he continued his piano studies with Carol Lube ...

, piano. * Naxos 8.559927: Leshnoff: Violin Concerto No. 2; Elegy; ''Of Thee I Sing.''

; Canterbury Voices;

Alexander Mickelthwate Alexander Mickelthwate (born 2 June 1970 in Frankfurt, West Germany) is a German-born conductor who is the current music director and principal conductor of Oklahoma City Philharmonic. Early life and education He is one of three sons in his fam ...

, conductor;

, violin.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Leshnoff, Jonathan 1973 births Living people 21st-century American classical composers 21st-century American male musicians Jewish American classical composers Musicians from New Brunswick, New Jersey Johns Hopkins University alumni Peabody Institute alumni University System of Maryland alumni Towson University faculty

Early life and education

Career

Awards and recognition

Selected works

Discography

References

Further reading

External links