(1956– )
John Leavitt is a composer, conductor, teacher, and church musician, whose music continues to captivate listeners and musicians of all ages. He received his undergraduate education at Emporia State University, Emporia, Kansas, a masters degree from Wichita State University, and the Doctorate of Musical Arts from The Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Leavitt is a lifetime member of the American Choral Directors Associate and is a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers, from which he has received annual recognition for his achievements.
Leavitt was the recipient of the W.A. Young Award for teaching excellence in recognition of his career at Friends University in the fields of music theory, choral, and church music. He has also served briefly on the faculties of Concordia College, Edmonton, Alberta (Canada), and Concordia University, River Forest, Illinois. Leavitt currently resides near Wichita (Andover), Kansas where he has held the post of music director at Immanuel Lutheran Church and Cantor at Reformation Lutheran Church. He also conducted the community choral program, The Master Arts Chorale and Youth Chorale, during their 12 year tenure. In March of 2003, he received the Kansas Artist Fellowship Award from the Kansas Arts Commission for his contribution to music composition. He most recently completed tenure on faculty as Director of Music at Newman University in Wichita.
An extraordinary composer and clinician for church and school music literature, Leavitt continues to teach, lecture, and guest conduct numerous workshops, festivals, and symposia. He continues to serve as a regular guest conductor on the Mid America Productions Carnegie Hall Concert Series in New York, which he has participated in since 1998. His compositions are represented in nearly every major music catalog. He has numerous publications for choir, piano, organ, handbells, and string orchestra and is co-author of the widely used choral music method textbook series Essential Elements for Choir.
His discography includes A Sonic Spectacular, organ, (1997); A Little Night Music, piano, (1998); Handel's Messiah, choral, (1998); Sweet Songs of Christmas, piano, (2000)' Adoration, piano, (2000); How Sweet the Sound, piano, (2000); Requiem, choral, (2001); What Child is This, choral (2002); Silent Night, Wondrous Light, piano (2002); Wonder, Love, and Praise, orchestra (2003); Shall We Gather at the River, orchestra (2005); and Jubilee, choral (2005).