Paul Leary, originally a Southern California native, attended the University of Michigan and in 1999 received his Bachelor’s in music Composition. There he studied with William Albright, Erik Santos, and Michael Dougherty. His graduate work brought him to the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM), where he received his Masters in Music Composition in May 2002. He also attended the summer program, La Scola Catorum in Paris, France under the direction of Phillip Lasser. During his studies at CIM, Paul taught music theory for non-majors at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU). Paul Leary was one of the contributing orchestrators for Contemporary Youth Orchestra concert Classical Nash. In the fall of 2003, the Contemporary Youth Orchestra commissioned Paul for Concerto for Trumpet, Turntables, and Orchestra for their December concert. Paul’s piece, Horn Sonata was premiered by Richard King, principle horn of the Cleveland Orchestra in the spring of 2003, this work has been played all around the world. In April 2004, Paul orchestrated, arranged and transcribed the Contemporary Youth Orchestra’s concert with Jon Anderson, lead singer of Yes. In 2005, Paul orchestrated and arranged a concert with four time Grammy Award winning artist Pat Benetar. Paul’s music has also appeared in the concert series at Mather Dance Center in Cleveland, Oh, from 2002-6; contributing works for String Quintet, Electronics, Cello and Piano, Clarinet and Piano, and solo Piano. Paul’s most recent work, “I have a Past Life Memory of the War that Blew the Fifth Planet into the Asteroid Belt” for sax quartet and electronics was chosen as a finalist at the 2007 International Computer Music Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. It will also be performed at the Florida State New Music Festival in Florida in Jan. 2009 and is the winner of the Look and Listen composition competition in New York City. In 2005, Paul became a part-time lecturer at Case Western Reserve University teaches computer music. In 2005, Paul Leary began working towards his PhD in Music Composition at Duke University. Currently, Paul took a leave of absence from his studies at Duke to teach theory, composition, and music history full time at Denison University in Granville, OH for the 2007-8 academic year. He is now back in NC finishing his PhD.
Full CV available for download here.