Dr. Leigh Wakefield is a professor of music at Concordia College, Moorhead, MN, where he teaches clarinet, chamber music, and woodwind methods. During his 33 years at the college, he has also been conductor of the Concordia Cobber Band and the Concordia Jazz Ensemble.
Previous to teaching at Concordia, Wakefield lived in New England where he was the principal clarinetist in the New Bedford Symphony and the Nashua Symphony, as well as an active chamber musician in the Boston area. Currently, he is principal clarinetist with the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra, the Fargo-Moorhead Opera Company, and is a member of the Concordia Wind Quintet. Wakefield has performed at a variety of national and regional music festivals including appearances at the International Clarinet Fest, the International Double Reed Society convention, the International Music Camp, Soiva music camp (Finland and Moorhead), Class Note Artists (Minnesota Public Radio), and the Minnesota Music Educators convention.
Wakefield earned his undergraduate degrees in political science and music from the University of Minnesota, a master’s degree in clarinet from the New England Conservatory of Music, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Minnesota. A firm believer in music education and the power of music to influence people’s lives, he has served as a frequent adjudicator, clinician, and guest conductor.