North Carolina State University

Nathan Leaf is the Director of Choral Activities at North Carolina State University, where he conducts three choirs and teaches voice.  Dr. Leaf brings a broad array of conducting experience to the podium, having conducted chamber choirs, large choirs with orchestra, musical theater, opera, and wind ensembles.  He was previously on the music faculties of University of Wyoming and Concordia College

in Moorhead, Minnesota.  In addition to teaching at NC State, Leaf is the chorus master for the Raleigh-based Opera Company of North Carolina.  A frequent guest conductor and clinician, his work with young singers emphasizes thoughtful musicality and healthy vocal production. 
 
An active singer, Leaf is a member of the Oregon Bach Festival Chorus in Eugene, Oregon, performing on their recent series of recordings of Haydn masses on the Hänssler Classic label.  He has performed with Conspirare-Company of Voices in Austin, Texas, the Carnegie Hall Festival Chorus in New York City, and in the Triangle area with the North Carolina Master Chorale Chamber Choir.  In 2004, he toured Central Europe as member of the Swedish male choir Orphei Drängar.  He occasionally appears as a tenor soloist in both concert and recital settings. 

Dr. Leaf earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Valparaiso University (Indiana) and Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in choral conducting from The University of Texas at Austin. A former Bruton Graduate Fellow, his research on Swedish choral music has been supported by the UT Swedish Studies Excellence Endowment, and has been published in Choral Journal, the primary publication of the American Choral Directors Association.