Clifford Leaman

Critics have hailed Clifford Leaman "an artist of the first orderintuitive, exciting, and enthralling." (Paul Wagner, The Saxophone Journal)

"Leaman reveals himself to be {an} artist of technical brilliance and emotional commitment." "The range of colors is impressive..." (Jack Sullivan, American Record Guide)

Professor of saxophone at the University of South Carolina, Dr. Leaman received the Bachelor of Science degree in music education from Lebanon Valley College, and the Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in performance from the University of Michigan where he was a student of Donald Sinta. He served on the faculties of Furman University, Eastern Michigan University, and The University of Michigan prior to his appointment at the University of South Carolina.

Dr. Leaman is in great demand as a soloist and clinician and has performed and taught throughout the United States, Canada, Italy, Spain and China, where he was a featured guest artist for the 2004, 2005 and 2006 Yantai International Winds Art Festival and the 2005 Xi'an International Arts Festival.

Dr. Leaman, in collaboration with pianist Derek Parsons, formed the Ambassador Duo in 1990; and they have released three critically acclaimed compact discs on the Equilibrium label. These recordings are entitled Brillance (EQ-21), featuring the works of Bassett, Bolcom, Lennon, Kilstofte, and Gotkovsky, and Excursions (EQ-55), featuring works of Heiden, Maurice, Whitney, Schumann, Rachmaninoff, Vaughan Williams, and Demersseman; and their most recent disc, Illuminations (EQ-77), features, among others, three works that were written for the duo.

Dr. Leaman is also featured on a variety of recordings of solo and chamber works for Redwood Records, CRS, and the University of Arizona Recordings. An avid supporter of contemporary music, Dr. Leaman has commissioned and given the world premiere performances of numerous works, including concertos by Pulitzer Prize-winning composers, Leslie Bassett and Michael Colgrass. His recording of the Bassett with the University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra is available through Equilibrium Records (EQ-63).