John Leonard (sound designer)
Encyclopedia
John Leonard is a theater and exhibition sound designer working in the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States Of America.
Occasionally uses his middle initial A (for Anthony) to differentiate him from others in the entertainment field with the same name.
and The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
. The youngest of four children, he was influenced in his choice of career by his brother David Leonard and his father, a keen radio ham.
's stable; The Theatre Royal, The New Vic Studio and The Little Theatre. During his time at the Bristol Old Vic, he co-designed and built what was to become one of the first sound mixing boards designed exclusively for theater, marketed as the Libra Theater Desk. This was awarded the Association of British Theatre Technicians
Product of the Year for 1979.
In 1978, he was invited to join the Royal Shakespeare Company
and in 1984 he was made the company's first head of sound and an associate artist of the company. Whilst there, he conceived and co-designed the ASSIST computer-aided sound-routing system. A development, DAISY, a digitally controlled analog mixing board with assignable controls, was conceived in 1984, but shelved through lack of development funding.
He left in 1989 to pursue a freelance career, joining with fellow sound designers John Owens and Fergus O'Hare to form Aura Sound Design in 1998. The company closed down in 2004 with the partners all pursuing separate careers.
He has provided soundtracks for theater productions in many countries and has designed exhibition systems for the Tussauds Group in London, Amsterdam, New York and at Warwick Castle
. He works regularly for The Almeida Theatre
in London, for whom he is Sound Associate, as well as The Royal National Theatre
Of Great Britain and in London's West-End.
As an author, he has contributed to 'Effects For Theatre', published by A&C Black/Routledge and is the author of 'Theatre Sound' for the same company. He writes regularly for Live Design magazine and contributed extensively to the BBC Radio 4 series on theater sound "From Megaphone To Microphone." He also authored Theatre Sound.
Leonard has been an innovator in many fields of theater sound design, including promoting the use of stereo and surround material, specialist sound mixing boards, computer assisted routing systems and the use of computers and samplers for playback purposes. He is an advocate of surround recording using the Ambisonic system and has collected a large sound effects library recorded in the four channel system known as B-Format.
He is an Honorary Fellow of The Guildhall School of Music and Drama
and of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts
and guest lecturer at a number of drama colleges in the UK and the US.
Occasionally uses his middle initial A (for Anthony) to differentiate him from others in the entertainment field with the same name.
Biography
Born in Bristol, United Kingdom in 1951, he was educated at Bristol Grammar SchoolBristol Grammar School
Bristol Grammar School is a co-educational independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England. The school was founded in 1532 by two brothers, Robert and Nicholas Thorne....
and The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, opened by Laurence Olivier in 1946, is an affiliate of the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama, an organisation securing the highest standards of training in the performing arts, and is an associate school of the Faculty of Creative Arts of the University of the...
. The youngest of four children, he was influenced in his choice of career by his brother David Leonard and his father, a keen radio ham.
Career
In 1971 he joined the staff of The Theatre Royal, Bristol and became part of the sound department in 1972. He ran the department on his own until 1976, providing soundtracks for the three theaters in the Bristol Old VicBristol Old Vic
The Bristol Old Vic is a theatre company based at the Theatre Royal, King Street, in Bristol, England. The theatre complex includes the 1766 Theatre Royal, which claims to be the oldest continually-operating theatre in England, along with a 1970s studio theatre , offices and backstage facilities...
's stable; The Theatre Royal, The New Vic Studio and The Little Theatre. During his time at the Bristol Old Vic, he co-designed and built what was to become one of the first sound mixing boards designed exclusively for theater, marketed as the Libra Theater Desk. This was awarded the Association of British Theatre Technicians
Association of British Theatre Technicians
The Association of British Theatre Technicians or ABTT is a British trade association representing technical staff working within theatre.-History:...
Product of the Year for 1979.
In 1978, he was invited to join the Royal Shakespeare Company
Royal Shakespeare Company
The Royal Shakespeare Company is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs 700 staff and produces around 20 productions a year from its home in Stratford-upon-Avon and plays regularly in London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and on tour across...
and in 1984 he was made the company's first head of sound and an associate artist of the company. Whilst there, he conceived and co-designed the ASSIST computer-aided sound-routing system. A development, DAISY, a digitally controlled analog mixing board with assignable controls, was conceived in 1984, but shelved through lack of development funding.
He left in 1989 to pursue a freelance career, joining with fellow sound designers John Owens and Fergus O'Hare to form Aura Sound Design in 1998. The company closed down in 2004 with the partners all pursuing separate careers.
He has provided soundtracks for theater productions in many countries and has designed exhibition systems for the Tussauds Group in London, Amsterdam, New York and at Warwick Castle
Warwick Castle
Warwick Castle is a medieval castle in Warwick, the county town of Warwickshire, England. It sits on a bend on the River Avon. The castle was built by William the Conqueror in 1068 within or adjacent to the Anglo-Saxon burh of Warwick. It was used as a fortification until the early 17th century,...
. He works regularly for The Almeida Theatre
Almeida Theatre
The Almeida Theatre, opened in 1980, is a 325 seat studio theatre with an international reputation which takes its name from the street in which it is located, off Upper Street, in the London Borough of Islington. The theatre produces a diverse range of drama and holds an annual summer festival of...
in London, for whom he is Sound Associate, as well as The Royal National Theatre
Royal National Theatre
The Royal National Theatre in London is one of the United Kingdom's two most prominent publicly funded theatre companies, alongside the Royal Shakespeare Company...
Of Great Britain and in London's West-End.
As an author, he has contributed to 'Effects For Theatre', published by A&C Black/Routledge and is the author of 'Theatre Sound' for the same company. He writes regularly for Live Design magazine and contributed extensively to the BBC Radio 4 series on theater sound "From Megaphone To Microphone." He also authored Theatre Sound.
Leonard has been an innovator in many fields of theater sound design, including promoting the use of stereo and surround material, specialist sound mixing boards, computer assisted routing systems and the use of computers and samplers for playback purposes. He is an advocate of surround recording using the Ambisonic system and has collected a large sound effects library recorded in the four channel system known as B-Format.
He is an Honorary Fellow of The Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Guildhall School of Music and Drama is an independent music and dramatic arts school which was founded in 1880 in London, England. Students can pursue courses in Music, Opera, Drama and Technical Theatre Arts.-History:...
and of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts
Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts
The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts , located near the north coast of Wan Chai on the Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong, is both an academic institution and a venue for performances....
and guest lecturer at a number of drama colleges in the UK and the US.