Faculty: Leanna Kirchoff

Office Phone: 303-556-3252 Email Address: kirchoff@mscd.edu Classes Taught: Theory, Ear-training, Class Piano

A native of rural Colorado, Leanna Kirchoff is a faculty member in the music department of Metropolitan State College of Denver.  As a composer, songwriter and lyricist, she has written vocal chamber music, choral anthems, show tunes, folk and gospel songs.  Kirchoff’s music embraces inquiring and philosophical themes as well as whimsy.  She has drawn inspiration from many sources including the work of various European and North American poets, Native American poetry, religious writings, mythology and children’s books.

Musical theatre projects highlight Kirchoff’s diverse catalog.  She has composed music and lyrics for seven musicals commissioned and produced by Stages Theatre Company in Minnesota.  Her activities in musical theatre also include work as a conductor, musical director and performance keyboardist for numerous productions in Boston, Minnesota and Colorado.  She was assistant musical director and keyboardist for the first national tour of Schoolhouse Rock Live touring the northeastern and southeastern United States.

While living in Boston, Kirchoff was composer-in-residence with Temple Emanuel Synagogue and Twelfth Baptist Church.  As part of the residency program sponsored by the American Composers Forum Boston Area Chapter, Kirchoff composed three choral pieces utilizing Psalm texts.  Performances of the works took place at the North American Jewish Choral Music Festival in New York and at an ecumenical concert in Boston. 

In the last year, Kirchoff has turned to instrumental writing with the premieres of works for solo piano and solo flute and the completion of an orchestral work last Fall.  Her CantusRosarum was recorded recently on Airs to Charm a Lizard, music for solo flute recorded by Massachusetts flutist, Katherine Kleitz.

Kirchoff’s educational background includes a Master of Arts in Composition from the University of Minnesota where she studied with Dominick Argento, Judith Lang Zaimont, and Stephen Paulus.  She also holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Commercial Music from the University of Denver studying composition with Donald Keats and piano with Alice Rybak.  At Metro State, Kirchoff teaches theory, class piano and composition.  During the academic year she also maintains a private studio of piano students in the Denver and Limon areas.

>>Back To Faculty List