Leonard Salvo

Leonard Salvo has served as Director of Bands at Ashland University since 1988. In addition to his work with the University Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, Community Concert Band and Marching Band, he teaches courses in conducting and music education. Before coming to Ashland he held positions at Indiana State University as Assistant Director of Bands and as Assistant Band Director for the University of Toledo.

Mr. Salvo also spent 17 years in the public schools of Michigan. During that time, bands under his direction gained a national reputation through performances for the Mid-West International Band & Orchestra Clinic (Chicago), The Mid-East Conference on Instrumental Music (Pittsburgh), The Midwestern Conference on School Vocal and Instrumental Music (Ann Arbor) and the Eastern Michigan Contemporary Music Festival, Karel Husa composer/conductor (Ypsilanti, MI). Ensembles under his direction have received critical acclaim from some of the nation’s most respected composers and conductors including Robert Page, Donald Erb, Anthony Iannaccone. Claude T. Smith, William D. Revelli, H. Robert Reynolds, John Whitwell, Harry Begian, Mark Kelly, and Karel Husa.

He is active as a conductor, adjudicator and clinician throughout the Midwest and has served on staffs of several summer music clinics from Michigan to North Carolina. He was honored to be invited to serve on the faculty of Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio as visiting associate professor of music and director of the Symphonic Wind Ensemble. Mr. Salvo was also honored by The Music Department of Eastern Michigan University in being recognized as an Outstanding Alumnus and invited him to serve as visiting lecturer and conductor.

An active member several professional organizations he has twice been elected to serve as President of the Ohio Private College Instrumental Conductors Association. He takes an active role in campus life and has been recognized as the Outstanding Advisor for Student Organizations at Ashland University for his work with the Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary Band Fraternity and University Bands.