Kirby LEITZ
JLV AMBASSADOR
« Freedom & Fluidity »
The JLV ligature offers unmatched fluidity and freedom, wrapping the reed with unique precision.
It provides a sense of security while allowing the artistic voice to express itself fully: a true playing pleasure one never turns back from.
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THE BIOGRAPHY OF KIRBY LEITZ
Kirby Leitz, an American saxophonist and educator based in Montreal, stands out for his versatility and open-minded vision of contemporary music.
Passionate about the dialogue between musical cultures, he combines virtuosity, creativity, and musical transmission.
As a JLV ambassador, he values the freedom and fluidity that his JLV ligatures bring to his playing.
Kirby Leitz (he/him) is a saxophonist and educator currently based in Montreal, Quebec.
His artistic approach is rooted in a deep desire to create connections and musical camaraderie across diverse cultures and sound worlds.
Although the saxophone remains his primary instrument, Kirby has also established himself as a collaborative pianist and violinist.
He has taught piano, saxophone, and violin for several years, and also possesses a working proficiency on trumpet and guitar in various performance contexts.
This versatility and musical curiosity make him a flexible, attentive, and passionate teacher.
As a performer, Kirby Leitz has appeared across the United States at numerous festivals and events, including the Indiana State University Contemporary Music Festival, the Bowling Green State University New Music Festival, the Navy Band International Saxophone Symposium, and the North American Saxophone Alliance Conference.
Internationally, he has participated in Susquehanna University’s GO Study Abroad Program (Niigata, Japan) and in the Cortona Sessions for New Music (Cortona, Italy; Ede, Netherlands).
He was also a winner of the Susquehanna University Concerto Competition.
Kirby holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Susquehanna University (Magna Cum Laude) and a Master of Music in Saxophone Performance from Bowling Green State University, where he served as a graduate assistant teaching woodwind methods.
He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Performance at McGill University (Montreal, Quebec), focusing on contemporary music and the exploration of Canadian saxophone culture, shaped by the intersection of French and American traditions.
His principal teachers include Dr. Gail B. Levinsky, Dr. John Sampen, and Marie-Chantal Leclair.
HIS SAXOPHONE EQUIPMENT
Fluidity, flexibility, and freedom.
The JLV ligature embraces my reeds in a way that no other ligature can equal, offering a sense of security while allowing my artistic voice to express itself freely throughmy instrument.
It is a true pleasure to play with a JLV ligature, and I have never once felt the slightest desire to go back.
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