Joel Leach

Joel Leach was a professor of music at California State University, Northridge (CSUN), where he notably served as the director of the Jazz Band and founded the university’s percussion program. During his impactful 26-year leadership of the Jazz Band, he was honored with titles like “Jazz Educator of the Year” by the Los Angeles Jazz Society and recognized as an “American National Treasure” by the Los Angeles City Council.

In 1994, he introduced and developed the Music Industry Studies (M.I.S.) major at CSUN, which became the department’s largest program. His vision even attracted a $1 million endowment from artist and entrepreneur Mike Curb, establishing the Mike Curb Endowed Chair in Music Industry Studies.

Before his tenure at CSUN, Leach taught percussion and jazz at Texas Tech University and percussion at Michigan State University. He also spent time in the Lansing (MI) public schools teaching instrumental music.