BIO

Leif Haley (b. 2000) is a composer, percussionist, and pianist currently studying at the Royal College of Music, London, with Kenneth Hesketh.  Prior to this, he studied composition with Daniel Thomas Davis and percussion with Joel Smales at Binghamton University, New York, where he graduated with highest honors in music for the creation and performance of his evening-length chamber opera, Prunella, based on the eponymous fairytale.  He has also studied with Wally Gunn (composition), Monteith McCollum (sound and performance), and Gayle Hinsdill (piano). 

Leif has won numerous awards for his work, including the Binghamton University Provost’s Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research, the Binghamton University Summer Scholars and Artists Fellowship, and the NYSSMA Student Electronic Compositions Showcase.  His compositions have been performed by professional ensembles including Momenta Quartet, HUB New Music, Fifth House Ensemble, YARN/WIRE, and New Thread Quartet, as well as the Binghamton University Percussion Ensemble and the Royal College of Music’s percussion quartet, PERC’M.  Recordings of some works may be found on his website and YouTube page. 

In addition to composition, Leif was an active performer in Binghamton’s Wind Symphony, Percussion Ensemble, and Steel Drum Band, as well as a participant in the University Symphony Orchestra and various composition studio ensembles.  For four years he was a member and composer in Explorchestra: Binghamton’s student-run and student-composed orchestra.  He continues to perform as a percussionist and pianist in both ensemble and solo settings, including working with RCM Spark’s music programs for young people. 

Leif enjoys both classical and electronic music, with a particular interest in rhythm and sonority, and is always looking for new ways to prepare pianos and bow everything from cowbells to music stands. 

Outside of music, Leif enjoys martial arts, hiking, reading and writing, mythology and fairytales,  philosophy, linguistics, and psychology.  He has a 4th degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, is 5th Kyu in Aikido, and unintentionally earned a green belt in Karate.  He worked in the Binghamton University Learning and Representation in Cognition laboratory under Kenneth Kurtz for two years, studying category learning (broadly) and the use of relational encoding as a mechanism for creatively solving insight problems (specifically).  He also seriously and scientifically studies dreams, with a paper in the International Journal of Dream Research.  He is an enthusiastic reader and writer of both prose and poetry. 

About photo: Kyle Quintao

Home photo: Deniz Dortok

RECOGNITION

Binghamton Summer Scholars and Artists Program Fellowship for Prunella

Winning an SSAP Fellowship allowed me to write and compose a chamber opera retelling of the fairy tale Prunella.  The piece was performed in concert version on Friday, April 14, 2023.  See the poster presentation or the recording of the performance below:

Binghamton University "Word of Mouth" 2022

A collaboration between Binghamton University composers, musicians, and poets.  Read an article about it or listen to the concert below:


Christopher Tin's #SognoChallenge

A challenge put out by Christopher Tin to reharmonize his renowned piece "Sogno di Volare", in which I participated.  Check out all the submissions here:

NYSSMA Electronic Music Composition Showcase

Two of my electronic compositions won the NYSSMA Electronic Composition Showcase in 2018.  See more here: