Leo Najar brings a rich mixture of professional, community and educational experiences as the newly appointed music director of the Bay Concert Band.

Ardent in pursuit of new audiences, his innovative concerts have been widely acclaimed.  An accomplished arranger, he has written well over 300 works that combine the orchestra with a rainbow of groups that include traditional ensembles such as chorus, gospel choir, jazz and bluegrass quartets to steel drums, klezmer and zydeco bands.

Michigan audiences know him best as the Artistic Director of The Bijou Orchestra, an ensemble that presents a wide range of programs in a format that was the primary American orchestral fashion for nearly 100 years.  The orchestra has recorded, toured to Canada for performances, been featured guest artists at the Traverse City Film Festival and regularly performs concerts throughout Michigan.

Much of his career has been spent with symphony orchestras. He was Music Director of the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra from 1980 through 2003 during which time he produced concerts, chamber programs, operas, radio programs and a rich variety of thematic and educational programs, presenting over 3,000 community performers of many disciplines on stage with the Symphony.  In addition to that work, he served in artistic leadership positions with The Midland Symphony Orchestra, Ohio Chamber Orchestra,  Ballet Michigan and the symphony orchestras of Flint, Dearborn and Traverse City.

In 2001 he served as a special advisor and principal guest conductor to the National Orchestra of El Salvador under the auspices of the American State Department. In 2003 he was awarded the prestigious Cikker Prize by the foundation of that name in Slovakia in recognition of his work to further interest in Slovak music.

Mr. Najar has had a distinguished career as a teacher, serving on the faculties of The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and in Flint, Georgia State University, Central Michigan University, Wayne State University, the National Music Camp at Interlochen, the Bay View Festival and Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp.  A popular clinician and workshop presenter, he has conducted the Michigan and Florida All-State high school orchestras as well as the Georgia Music Educators High School Orchestra Festivals and numerous regional events.

Mr. Najar is Director of Music at First Presbyterian Church in Bay City.

He has served as a board member of the Conductors Guild, President of the Michigan Orchestra Association, and as an evaluator for the National Endowment for the Arts and the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs.  He is active in community affairs, serving as President of the Bay City Downtown Management Board and serves on the Public Affairs Committee of the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce.  He is a member of the Bay City Rotary Club and currently resides in Bay City with his wife Regina, who is director of the Bay Area Women’s Center.