Rebecca Leonard has been the orchestra director at League Academy since 2014. Before teaching in Greenville, she taught in Pickens County Schools for one year and in Richland School District Two for 14 years. She received both her Bachelor of Music Education and Masters in Education from the University of South Carolina. As a cello player, Mrs. Leonard has performed with the Lake Murray Symphony, Anderson Symphony, and for various events.
Under her direction, the League Academy Orchestras consistently earn superior ratings at state concert festivals and other concert events. Mrs. Leonard’s orchestras over the years have performed at Carowinds Music Festival, Festivals of Music in Atlanta, Festivals of Music in Williamsburg, Festival Disney, Music in the Parks, Southern Star Music Festival, and the 2009 South Carolina Music Educators Association Convention in Charleston, SC. In 2013, Mrs. Leonard was a semi-finalist for the Grammy Music Educator Award. She has been invited to be a guest conductor for the Pickens All-County Orchestra, the 2017 Region 1 6-8 Honors Orchestra, and is invited to be the conductor for the 2019 6-8 Midlands Region Honors Orchestra.
Mrs. Leonard earned her National Board Certification in Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood/Music in 2006 and renewed her certification in 2015. She maintains professional affiliations with NAfME and SCMEA. Mrs. Leonard and her husband, Arthur, have three children, Caitlyn, Collin, and Caroline and live in Greenville, SC.
Chris Gratton is a Strings Teacher and Cellist. Mr. Gratton teaches part time at League Academy and part time at the ARMES Program. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance from the University of South Carolina. He also holds a Master of Music degree from the University of Tennessee. Chris has performed with several orchestras in the South East. Mr. Gratton enjoys playing many genres of music, arranging songs, and being a recording artist. Chris has one child, Max, who is a hockey goalie. In his free time, he enjoys running and playing hockey.