Columbia Chamber Winds

Monica DeLeon - Bassoon

Monica De Leon is a bassoonist, composer, and music educator.  She is pursing dual masters in Music Composition (’10) and Education (’10) from the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University. She holds three undergraduate music degrees in Bassoon Performance, Music Education, and Composition with a minor in Jazz Voice from Peabody. Monica teaches private bassoon lessons and regularly freelances with local orchestras. She is a founding member of the Columbia Chamber Winds and has organized several large ensemble concerts.  She is currently the Principal Bassoonist of the Columbia Orchestra and appeared as a soloist with them this past January. She has studied bassoon with Linda Harwell (retired National Symphony) as an undergraduate, Terry Ewell (Towson) recently, Truman Harris (National Symphony) as a National Symphony Youth Apprentice and in the Summer Orchestra Program, and Barrick Stees (Cleveland Ochestra) while attending Interlochen Arts Camp.
Also an accomplished composer, Monica began composing when she was eight years old with the aid of an early computer program for the Apple Commador 64. Since then her works have been featured locally and as far as several places in England. Her chamber opera, Wings of Fire, was produced by the Peabody Opera Department.  Also she was awarded several grants, including a Johns Hopkins Provost grant to present a recital of new works for bassoon at the International Double Reed Society Convention in Tempe, Arizona.  Last year she presented a complete recital of her works featuring a full chorus, wind quintet, bass voice, and harp works at Peabody.  She currently studies composition with Thomas Benjamin, and has studied with Nicolas Maw, Moris Cotel, and Mark Lanz Weiser.
Monica has been a band director in Howard County Public Schools since 2001 and has been twice nominated for ‘Music Teacher of the Year for Howard County.’  She is currently the Band Director at Manor Woods Elementary School in Ellicott City, MD. Monica is a member of the American Composers Forum, MMEA, and MENC.