Leo Welch 

College of Performing and Visual Arts, University of Northern Colorado

Leo Welch serves as the dean of the College of Performing and Visual Arts and Professor of Music at the University of Northern Colorado. Recent leadership initiatives include an approved I@UNC (Innovation @ the University of Northern Colorado) proposal that seeks to develop and encourage arts entrepreneurship through a curricular certificate and co-curricular interdisciplinary experiences for arts students.

In close cooperation with a number of university partners, the College has enjoyed improvements in fine arts facilities with the refurbishment of Gray Gym into a rehearsal space for the School of Theatre Arts and Dance, enhancements to the lift and acoustic characteristics within Langworthy Theatre, and the envisioning and realization of Campus Commons, a 73 million dollar integrated campus building that includes a 600 seat performance hall, and new gallery exhibit spaces for the School of Art and Design.

Welch is also active concerning securing external support on behalf of the students, programs, facilities and faculty within the College. Recent financial assistance includes: a pledge by the Schramm Foundation for the renovation of Gray Gym, an important corporate season sponsorship by the University of Colorado Health, and a number of scholarship gifts by generous and philanthropic individuals to benefit and enhance the student’s arts experiences within the College.

Previously, Welch served as an associate dean at the Florida State University College of Music where his responsibilities included coordination of community engagement activities, music entrepreneurial initiatives, development activities, and promotion on behalf of the College. Prior to his appointment at Florida State, Welch was an assistant dean of the College of Fine Arts at Marshall University where he also directed the classical and jazz guitar programs.

As an editor, clinician, arranger and composer, Dr. Welch has published over 55 compositions, arrangements and editions of solo, chamber, and guitar ensemble works with the FJH Music Company, Mel Bay Publications, Tuscany Publications (Theodore Presser), D’Oz Publications, and Class Guitar Resources. He has also written articles relating to guitar education and guitar pedagogy that have been featured in the American String Teacher, Soundboard (Guitar Foundation of America), and GuitArt International periodicals. Active as a performer, Welch has performed as a classical and jazz guitarist throughout the United States and abroad, including a Carnegie Hall concert in 2007. Most recently, Welch served as a clinician/conductor at the mid-Atlantic Guitar Ensemble Festival and the Florida Music Educators’ Association Guitar Ensemble Festival in spring of 2015.