Mr. Jesse Leyva

Director of Bands

Mr. Jesse Leyva is Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Bands at Henderson State University.  Building upon the rich HSU tradition of excellence in music education and performance, Mr. Leyva conducts the Wind Ensemble and Concert Band, teaching music education and conducting courses, supervises instrumental music teaching interns, and guides all aspects of the storied and multi-faceted Henderson band program.

Mr. Leyva taught music in the California public and private schools for four years, where concert and jazz bands under his direction consistently received superior ratings at festivals.  He also served as a part-time member of the faculties of 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.  Upon his graduation from the Academy of Military Science, Mr. Leyva received his commission as an officer and served in the United States Air Force Band Program as Commander/Conductor of the Air National Guard Band of the West Coast.

Mr. Leyva is a candidate (ABD) for the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Arizona State University, where he studied wind conducting with Professor Gary W. Hill and euphonium with Professor J. Samuel Pilafian.  Mr. Leyva holds degrees from California State University Stanislaus (BA - Music Education) and San José State University (MA - Instrumental Conducting), where he was a student of Dr. Edward C. Harris.  Mr. Leyva has also served as a graduate teaching fellow at the University of North Texas, where he was a student of Eugene Migliaro Corporon.

Published in the fifth and sixth volume of the GIA series “Teaching Music Through Performance in Band,” Mr. Leyva will also be a Research Associate for the upcoming seventh 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.

Email

leyvaj@hsu.edu