Paul Leskowicz (Hartt, 1993; SUNY Stony Brook 1995)

  Paul studied with Ron Borror from 1988-1993 at the Hartt School where he earned his B.M. in Music Education and Trombone Performance and from 1993-1995 at SUNY Stony Brook where he earned a M.M. in Trombone Performance.   He looks upon those years with great appreciation for the standards and musicality Ron shared with him and inspired him to work towards.  THANK YOU, RON!

  A public school music teacher for nine years, Paul continues to teach Junior and Senior High Band in the Penns Valley Area School District, located just east of State College, Pennsylvania (home of the PSU Nittany Lions!).  Recent honors include several students selected to the PMEA Regional and State Band and performances at area festivals.  This spring, the high school band and chorus will travel to Cedar Point, Ohio, where they will perform for adjudication.  This past January, the Penns Valley Area High School was home to Alex Meixner, who conducted an Artist-In-Residence.  A Grammy Award-winning musician, Alex worked extensively with students in Paul’s Jazz Improvisation class, High School and Junior High Band, and both Jazz Bands.  The residency closed with a free community concert that featured Alex, Paul, and several students.  Recently, Paul was named one of the Great Teachers in Central Pennsylvania, and appeared on a public television documentary this past spring.

A free-lance trombonist in the Central Pennsylvania region, Paul has had the privilege to work with artists such as Mark Lusk, Dan Yoder, Alex Meixner, Michael Jinbo, and recently while on tour, Marvin Hamlisch.  Additionally, Paul performs with the Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra, Nittany Valley Symphony, Centre Brass, and Central PA’s premiere 17-piece big band, the Valley Jazz Orchestra.  He continues to compose music in his spare time, including a waltz and lullaby for his daughter, Cecilia.   His recent big-band arrangement of “Ballad for ‘liv,”an original tune written for his wife, marks his first steps into writing for big-band.  Currently, Paul is working on two other new big-band charts comprised of styles forged by Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, and Duke Ellington. 

  Paul and Olivia Bord (class of ’94, Hartt) married in the summer of 1995 and have a lovely daughter, Cecilia, who will turn six this coming February.  They have enjoyed the many blessings God has given them as a family. Recent joys have been playing family trios with Cecilia playing violin, Olivia the piano (and voice), and Paul the trombone.   “Twinkle, Twinkle…” has never before sounded so beautiful as when played with the people you love the most!