David Leisner

David’s latest album for the Azica label will be released on January 16, 2026. DEDICATIONS will be a digital-only release. It features 10 works that were commissioned by him over the years, that he hasn’t had a chance to record until now. The composers, all illustrious friends of his, include Chester Biscardi, Carlos Carrillo, David Del Tredici, Pierre Jalbert, Laura Kaminsky, Bun-Ching Lam, João Luiz, Peter Sculthorpe, Randall Woolf and…

The Leyenda Foundation’s annual Convention in Oklahoma City, taking place June 29-July 2, 2026, will feature David Leisner as performer, teacher, keynote speaker and recipient of the 2026 Celedonio Romero Lifetime Achievement Award. For further information: https://www.leyenda-foundation.com/

David Leisner is deeply honored and delighted to receive the 2026 Celedonio Romero Lifetime Achievement Award from the Leyenda Foundation, for his work as a performer, composer and teacher. For the full press announcement about the Award, click Read More, then click here.

Please look at the Schedule page to see David Leisner’s concert schedule for the 2025-26 season.

Take Effect just published a lovely review of last year’s album release, “Charms to Soothe”. “Mertz’s ‘Nocturne, op. 4. no. 2’ opens the listen with Leisner’s warm and inviting guitar playing that instantly draws us in…Near the end, ‘Two Etudes’, courtesy of Regondi, is a mesmerizing and rich album highlight that benefits much from Leisner’s meticulous craft, and two pieces from ‘Bardenklänge, op. 13’ exits with a colorful and enlightening…

David Leisner will be accepting DMA students at the CUNY Graduate Center in New York as of 2026-27. It is a 5-year program with 2 years of courses and a rigorous academic component. Only 9 students are accepted in the entire Music program each year, all with full tuition scholarships, and 2 with additional fellowships. Click here for more information.

The recent performance of Leisner’s Singing to the Stars (soprano, violin, saxophone and 2 guitars) is now up on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUfuamlmAKc. Also on that concert was the premiere of As Wind in Shells (soprano, violin and guitar). Both works were commissioned by guitarist Rob Nathanson.

Jim McCutcheon of American Record Guide described Leisner’s “Charms to Soothe” solo album as “a lovely program”. He went on to report: “Grouped into a sonata-like work, 4 well-chosen pieces from Op. 148 by Mauro Giuliani are refreshing, with a strongly played and well-articulated `La Risoluzione’ followed by a light and dancelike scherzo that grows into a strong belly-laugh by the end… Recording quality is realistic, bringing us the subtleties of…

David Leisner’s latest composition publications are Eve’s Diary for soprano and guitar, set to texts by Mark Twain, and …empty mind, open heart… for solo guitar, written for Steve Cowan. Both are published by Doberman-Yppan/Les Productions d’Oz.

The September 2024 issue of Textura contained this review: “Distinguished by attention to detail, thoughtful consideration of pacing, and clear affection for the music…Leisner’s articulation is unfailingly precise and his interpretations illuminating. Executed with the kind of ease and authority that comes from decades of playing, the material impresses for its melodic richness, warmth, and clarity.” For the full review, please click here.