Dr. Jesse Leyva joined the University of Illinois faculty in 2012 as Visiting Assistant Professor of Music and Assistant Director of Bands.  His responsibilities include conducting the Hindsley Symphonic Band, assisting with athletic bands, and other courses as assigned.  Prior to Leyva’s appointment at UI, he was Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music at Henderson State University in Arkansas, where ensembles under his direction were invited to perform at regional and state conferences.

As a band director in the California public and private high schools for four years, Dr. Leyva directed concert and jazz bands that consistently received superior ratings at festivals and contests.  He also served as a part-time faculty member at San José State University, where he taught courses in conducting and music education, as well as Stanford University, where he was the Assistant Conductor of the Stanford Symphony Orchestra.  A graduate of the Academy of Military Science, Dr. Leyva received his commission as an officer and served in the United States Air Force Band Program as Commander/Conductor of the 561st Air Force Band.

Published in several volumes of the GIA series “Teaching Music Through Performance in Band,” Dr. Leyva will also be a Research Associate for the upcoming ninth volume.  Further research interests include the wind band music of Mexican composers Carlos Chávez and Silvestre Revueltas, and the pedagogical practice of The Breathing Gym in the wind band rehearsal setting.

Dr. Leyva is a member of numerous professional organizations including the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, the National Association for Music Education, and the College Band Directors National Association.  He also is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (Nu Zeta) and holds honorary memberships in Kappa Kappa Tsi (Beta Omicron and Theta Phi) and Tau Beta Sigma (Theta Theta).