Russell Leon

CREATOR

Russell Leon has been teaching music in Toronto for more than 20 years. Russell is a graduate of York University's music program. His goal is to never stop learning. Russell is a past student of the Royal Conservatory of Music, he has studied Dalcroze Eurythmics at Carnegie Mellon University, has been a private student of Donald Himes, Katherine Duncanson and Brian Katz, and has studied music production from the Berklee College of Music. Russell currently teaches more than 30 private music lessons each week out of his home recording/rehearsal studio. Specializing in guitar, voice, drums, bass, piano and music theory. He has been a teacher on the faculty of University of Toronto's Jackman Institute of Child Study (OISE) since 1999 and the music teacher on faculty teaching grades one to eight at Humberside Montessori School since 2002.

As well as a demanding teaching schedule, Russell maintains a busy recording and performing life with the Russell Leon Band. He has released three cds and a number of music videos. James Black from the band Finger 11 directed the music video "Hey Good Looking" from the State of Mind recording.

Russell has won a Songs from the Heart award from the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals for ‘Troubadour.’ The Russell Leon Band was a finalist in the Toronto Independent Music Awards for Best Live Band in Toronto. As an acoustic act, Russell Leon came runner up for best acoustic act in the Toronto Indie music awards.

Over the last 5 years Russell has created an alter ego…Russell Sprout. A character that loves to entertain children of all ages. Russell Sprout performs frequently and has a fun live show, either as solo artist or with a full band. Russell Sprout is about to release his second recording…”Together”, in the spring of 2020. This LP/music book was produced by Ken Whitley (Raffi, Fred Penner, Sharon Lois and Bram….many more) Ken has won 16 Juno awards and has been nominated for a Grammy. The single “Here I am in Canada” is co written with Ken.

For info about Russell Leon Band: www.rleonband.com

For info about Russell Sprout: www.russellsproutmusic.com