Leonard Morton Jr. 
Commercial Music Ensemble

Leonard Morton

 

Leonard H. Morton Jr., is from Nashville, Tennessee and is a well-known professional musician in the Middle Tennessee Community.  His education includes an Undergraduate Degree in Music Education and a Master’s Degree in Music, both from Tennessee State University.  Presently, he an adjunct teacher with the Commercial Music Ensemble at Tennessee State University.  Leonard is also a freelance trombone player, performing in local churches, for private parties, wedding receptions and special events.  He has performed in the musicals Dream Girl, Fiddler on the Roof and Sound of Music.  Presently he is a band leader with the Total Eclipse Band performing Jazz, Rhythm & Blues.  He has performed in the Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama areas for many years.  Leonard has performed and recorded at the theme park of Opryland U.S.A. in the Dixieland Band. Special Studies include Berklee College of Music, in Boston Mass, for performance and Vandercook College of Music, Chicago Ill., for Drill Design for Marching Band. 

Mr. Morton’s graduate thesis paper was on the “History of Black Marching Bands in Nashville, Tennessee from 1937-2000”, presented at the African American History Conference with the Tennessee Historical Society in 2001.  Leonard is also a two time recipient of the Pencil Foundation Award for his study of Jazz Bands representing Metro Nashville Public Schools.  He also served twice as the All-Metro Jazz Band Director with Metro Nashville Public Schools.  While with Metro schools, Morton worked on the Textbook and Curriculum Adoption Committee for Instrumental Music. 

Morton organized the “Music City Classic” held at Whites Creek High School for 14 years, with bands coming from Memphis, Chattanooga and Nashville.  The “Music City Classic” was not a competition, but a chance for directors and students to get feedback from former band directors and musicians in the field.  His Marching Bands have participated in many Festivals across the state receiving excellent/superior awards with several grand champions overall at three different high schools.
Morton's bands have been noted as one of the top high school marching bands in Tennessee. His marching bands have participated in three BET televised Martin Luther King National Parades in Florida and Atlanta.  His Jazz Bands and Concert Bands have participated in Festivals receiving excellent/superior awards.

Morton has worked summers as youth choir director for the Mayor's Youth Patrol, Concert Director with Metro Parks Summer Concert Series in the Parks and music teacher at Hillwood Day Care for children in preschool.
Morton recently retired from Metro Nashville Public School System after 35 years teaching marching, concert and jazz bands.  He has been the Director of Bands at Whites Creek, Pearl-Cohn, Maplewood and Pearl High Schools and Cole, Kings Lane and West End Middle schools.  Professional Organizations include Music Educators National Conference, Tennessee Music Educations Association, National Educators Association, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary Band Fraternity.
Leonard is married to Rev. Michele R. Morton; they have two daughters Tesia (Jarrett) Wilson and Erin M. Morton, two grandchildren, Cayli and Aiden Wilson.

Contact Mr. Morton
Office: PA 269, (615) 963-4954





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