Lennie Foy
Trumpet | Greencastle, IN
Leonard (Lennie) Foy is Professor Emeritus of Trumpet at the DePauw University School of Music. A native of the “City of Arts and Innovation”, Winston-Salem, NC, he was born to both a musically dedicated community and musically gifted family.
Lennie is one of the most versatile trumpeters of his generation. Praised as soloist, chamber musician, collaborative artist, and clinician in both jazz and classical performing arts, his career includes performances with a variety of celebrity artists and ensembles at prominent venues in the United States, Canada, France, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Finland, Argentina, England, Egypt, and Russia. His appearances include extensive engagement with the Nashville Chamber Orchestra, the GRAMMY Award-winning Nashville Symphony Orchestra, as an inaugural member with both the Gateways Festival Orchestra for classical musicians of African descent and also the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, which is acclaimed to be “the best Jazz Repertory Band in the country” (The New Yorker).
A highly sought after soloist and collaborative musician, Lennie has performed with jazz artists Wycliffe Gordon, Peter Erskine, John Fedchock; classical performance ensembles Tromba Mundi, Nashville Chamber Brass Society, Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, Gateways Brass Collective, Colour of Music Festival Orchestra; touring jazz groups the Columbus Jazz Orchestra, Glen Miller Orchestra, Woody Herman Orchestra; and a variety of feature orchestras including artists Aretha Franklin, Johnny Mathis, Maureen McGovern, Frank Sinatra Jr., the Temptations, Andy Williams, and Stevie Wonder. Lennie has acclaimed recordings with the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, Buselli/Wallarab Jazz Orchestra, Brass Band of Battle Creek, DePauw University Band, and the Nashville Symphony Orchestra.
Professor Foy is a dedicated teacher committed to sustained excellence in teaching, scholarly, and creative work as recognized by his recent appointment as the Cassel Grubb University Professor of Music at DePauw University. Additionally he was awarded the Edwin L. Minar Jr. scholarship in recognition of significant scholarly achievement of a University faculty member. Lennie serves as artist/faculty at Shell Lake Arts Camp, Birch Creek Academy, the Interlochen Arts Camp, and has taught outreach education events sponsored by the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, Lafayette Symphony Orchestra, Nashville Symphony Orchestra, Brass Band of Battle Creek, Columbus Jazz Arts Group, and the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. A proud and devoted teacher since 1985, his students have won top prizes in competitions and hold top professional performing and teaching positions. Lennie has been featured artist/clinician for leading conferences, university events, and festivals including the Ravinia Festival, International Trumpet Guild Conference, University of Wisconsin Jazz Festival, Purdue University Jazz Festival, Interlochen Arts Academy, Tennessee Music Educators Conference, Wisconsin School Music Association Conference, Illinois Music Educators State Honors Festival, and North Carolina Music Educators Association.
Professor Emeritus Foy holds a bachelor and master's degree from the University of Rochester (NY) - Eastman School of Music where he was awarded the coveted Performer’s Certificate and has completed extensive work as a doctoral candidate at the Indiana University - Jacobs School of Music in Bloomington, IN. Lennie is a Conn-Selmer artist.