Leah McGray
Assistant Professor Director of Laurier Wind Orchestra Faculty of Music Waterloo, Ontario lmcgray@wlu.ca
Expert In
Languages
English
Bio/Research
Growing up in Nova Scotia, music was a huge part of daily life, learning and performing on clarinet, violin and piano. Finding my voice and space in the music of the wind ensemble, I am delighted to continue my professional work and studies as a conductor of wind and orchestral groups. I am the t...
Click to Expand >>
Click to Expand >>
Bio/Research
Growing up in Nova Scotia, music was a huge part of daily life, learning and performing on clarinet, violin and piano. Finding my voice and space in the music of the wind ensemble, I am delighted to continue my professional work and studies as a conductor of wind and orchestral groups. I am the the director of the Wind Orchestra and will also be teaching classes in conducting and community music. Previously, I was the director of Instrumental Studies for the State University of New York at Geneseo, and Rhodes College in Memphis TN, conducting orchestra, wind ensemble, and teaching classes in conducting and theory.
Guest conducting has taken me around the world, including the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, Memphis Youth Symphony Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, Penfield Symphony Orchestra, the 2023 National Youth Band of Canada, and for International Schools, honour bands, and music camps as far ranging as South Korea, California, and Alaska.
I started my professional path in the Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education degrees from Acadia University, and taught in Ontario, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia school music programs before earning my Master of Music from University of Toronto, and DMA in conducting at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.
Research Interests / Ongoing Projects:
- Chapter in an upcoming textbook exploring "Developing Collaborative Leadership" with Dr. Armand Hall and Dr. Gregory Whitmore (ed.). Instrumental Music Teaching in a Changing Society: The Professional Educator at the Intersection of Culture, Artistry, and Music Program Development.
- Contributor for two chapters of repertoire guides for works by composers Barbara York and Charles O’Neill for an upcoming book, Canadian Wind Band Resource, edited by D. Oehlerking.
- "Powerful: The Techniques of Creating Responsive Gestures," professional development presentation for conductors to examine and refine their non-verbal communication.
- "Modern Music for the Modern Student," professional development presentation for educators to explore non-traditional works in the school band and orchestra curriculum repertoire.
- "Diversity in Ensembles" (with Dr. Armand Hall),professional development presentation to examine practices for educators to create authentic and engaging experiences that center diverse racial, cultural, and gender perspectives.
Click to Shrink <<
Guest conducting has taken me around the world, including the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, Memphis Youth Symphony Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, Penfield Symphony Orchestra, the 2023 National Youth Band of Canada, and for International Schools, honour bands, and music camps as far ranging as South Korea, California, and Alaska.
I started my professional path in the Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education degrees from Acadia University, and taught in Ontario, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia school music programs before earning my Master of Music from University of Toronto, and DMA in conducting at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.
Research Interests / Ongoing Projects:
- Chapter in an upcoming textbook exploring "Developing Collaborative Leadership" with Dr. Armand Hall and Dr. Gregory Whitmore (ed.). Instrumental Music Teaching in a Changing Society: The Professional Educator at the Intersection of Culture, Artistry, and Music Program Development.
- Contributor for two chapters of repertoire guides for works by composers Barbara York and Charles O’Neill for an upcoming book, Canadian Wind Band Resource, edited by D. Oehlerking.
- "Powerful: The Techniques of Creating Responsive Gestures," professional development presentation for conductors to examine and refine their non-verbal communication.
- "Modern Music for the Modern Student," professional development presentation for educators to explore non-traditional works in the school band and orchestra curriculum repertoire.
- "Diversity in Ensembles" (with Dr. Armand Hall),professional development presentation to examine practices for educators to create authentic and engaging experiences that center diverse racial, cultural, and gender perspectives.
Click to Shrink <<
Media Relations
Aonghus Kealy
Communications and Media Relations Officer
akealy@wlu.ca
(548) 889-4855
Click to Expand >>
Communications and Media Relations Officer
akealy@wlu.ca
(548) 889-4855
Click to Expand >>
Media Relations
Aonghus Kealy
Communications and Media Relations Officer
akealy@wlu.ca
(548) 889-4855
Lori Chalmers Morrison
Director: Integrated Communications
lchalmersmorrison@wlu.ca
(548) 889-4857
Vanessa Barrasa
Director: Communications & Issues Management
vbarrasa@wlu.ca
(548) 889-3812
Brantford Campus:
Beth Gurney
Director, Strategic Communications and Community Engagement
bgurney@wlu.ca
(548) 889-4199
Click to Shrink <<
Communications and Media Relations Officer
akealy@wlu.ca
(548) 889-4855
Lori Chalmers Morrison
Director: Integrated Communications
lchalmersmorrison@wlu.ca
(548) 889-4857
Vanessa Barrasa
Director: Communications & Issues Management
vbarrasa@wlu.ca
(548) 889-3812
Brantford Campus:
Beth Gurney
Director, Strategic Communications and Community Engagement
bgurney@wlu.ca
(548) 889-4199
Click to Shrink <<