Leonard Rumery

Leonard Rumery was born in Los Angeles, California USA. He attended the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), receiving a bachelor's degree in music. While at UCLA he was hired to appear in the film "The Trouble with Girls" starring Elvis Presley. Leonard was part of a musical trio, which performed four songs in the movie: "Cripple Creek/Erie Canal" (in which he played the banjo), "Fourth Day of July" (which is heard while fireworks are exploding) and "Ramblin' Boy" ( on stage in the Chautauqua tent show). He also appears on stage, apparently backing up Elvis on "Clean up your own Backyard," but he was "lip-synching" the guitar, which was recorded by other musicians. He thoroughly enjoyed the experience. While at UCLA he performed in the Men's Glee Club and Madrigal Singers under the direction of Donn Weiss, and was the assistant conductor of the Madrigal Singers. He conducted orchestral and choral performances. As an undergraduate he was co-captain of the varsity fencing team. Before leaving the Los Angeles area, he was interviewed by Mort Sahl on television in his capacity as a harpsichord maker. He also participated as a singer in Dr. Frederick Hammond's recording of music by Frescobaldi. After graduating from UCLA he completed his doctorate in conducting from Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA in 1976. During his time at Stanford he studied conducting with Harold Schmidt and William Ramsey, and was the assistant conductor of the Stanford Chorale. After leaving Stanford, Leonard taught at California State University at Stanislaus, where he directed and conducted opera workshop performances of Vaughan William's "Riders to the Sea" and Gilbert and Sullivan's operetta "Trial by Jury." He also conducted the choral groups. In 1977 Leonard began teaching at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He taught doctoral courses in choral literature and performance practice and co-taught the graduate choral conducting practicum with Harold Decker. During his time at Illinois he conducted primarily the Concert Choir, as well as other choral groups from time to time. Among other performances he conducted staged versions of Bernstein's "Chichester Psalms" and Menotti's "The Unicorn, the Gorgon and the Manticore." In his final concert at Illinois he conducted the Oratorio Society, the Concert Choir and the University of Illinois Symphony in Walton's "Belshazzar's Feast" and a group of choruses from Verdi operas. After leaving the University of Illinois in 1982, Leonard taught as a sabbatical replacement for William Reynolds at the University of California at Riverside (UCR), where he conducted the university's choral groups. He directed and conducted a staged version of "Solomon" by Handel. Then he changed course. After UCR he became a computer programmer for Unicorn Systems in Los Angeles and beginning in 1986 attended the University of Illinois School of Law, graduating and passing the Illinois bar in early 1989. He became the Assistant State's Attorney for Piatt County, Illinois USA and was elected Piatt County State's Attorney in 2000. While working in the State's Attorney's Office Leonard was musical director and pit orchestra conductor for many Broadway-style shows at the Virginia Theatre in Champaign, Illinois, produced by the Champaign-Urbana Theatre Company (CUTC). He also performed on stage. His memorable roles include Warbucks in "Annie" and Kalenkhov in "You Can't Take It with You." He was the arranger and conductor for "CUTC Follies" starring Mark Roberts. Leonard has acted in several independent films, produced by Robin Christian, including "Link," "Act Your Age," and "Disconnect." In 2008 Leonard retired from the State's Attorney's Office and still pursues a small legal practice in Monticello, Illinois USA. In retirement Leonard has gone back to the musical part of his career. He conducts the Chancel Choir at University Place Christian Church, Urbana, Illinois USA and is starting a business making recorders (the wind instrument, not the tape recorder) by hand. He also performs in a trio called Stringtown Lane, where he sings and plays the guitar and other instruments.