John Leavitt was born in Leavenworth, Kansas in 1956. He now resides near Wichita, Kansas. John's career started at Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas. He earned his undergraduate education there and continued to get his master's degree at Wichita State University and his doctorate in music arts from the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Mr. Leavitt is a member of several respectable music associations.
These include the American Choral Directors Association and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.Over the years, from both of these groups, he has been awarded recognition for his achievements. John is now a respected composer and conductor. John Leavitt recieved many awards throughout his career and still does.
Some of his accompishments include holding important positions and being recognized for his great work effort. He recieved the W. A. Young Award for being an outstanding teacher at Friends University.
There he taught music theory, choral and church music and was recognized for this. Also, he served for a short amount of time at Concordia College, Edmonton, Alberta and Concordia University.In his residing town near Wichita, he has held the position of being the music director at two Luthercan Churches. While being active in church and school choral programs, he also conducted a community choir program called, The Master Arts Chorale and Youth Chorale. In 2003, the Kansas Arts Commission awarded John Leavitt the Jansas Artist Fellowship Award for his major contribution to composing music.
Recently, he was given the opportunity to be able to be the Director of Music at Newman University in Wichita, which is very close to his home.
