Tracy E. Leenman received a Bachelor of Music (magna cum laude) degree from Syracuse University in 1977 in Choral and Instrumental Music Education. She earned a Master of Music in Music Education from Syracuse University, in 1983; and has done course work towards a Ph.D. in Music Education at the Eastman School of Music. 

Chris brings great energy to the store front of Musical Innovations! He can often be caught jamming to whatever playlist is going, trying to replace every instrument on the wall with a saxophone, or just spreading his love of music with everyone who walks in the door.

Dr. O'Shields is a four-time recipient of the National Band Association's Citation of Excellence, has been recognized as the Outstanding Bandmaster in South Carolina, and as Outstanding Contributor to Bands in South Carolina. He recently served as chair of the adjudication committee and president-elect of the South Carolina Band Directors Association. He has played professionally on both clarinet and piano for over thirty years.

Dr. Eric Peterson is a recipient of the Richard B. Tolley Service Award at Texas Tech University and is a member of Music Educators National Conference, South Dakota Bandmasters Association, the North Carolina Music Educators Association, the College Band Directors National Association, the National Band Association, an elected jury member of the John Philip Sousa Foundation Sudler Shield Committee, and is an honorary inducted member of Tau Beta Sigma and Kappa Kappa Psi. Dr. Peterson remains active as a conductor, clinician and adjudicator.

A native of Michigan, Scott is a graduate of The University of Michigan, where he earned his B.A. in both Music Performance (saxophone) and English. Active as a woodwind specialist for the past 21 years, he has been acclaimed in Michigan as a teacher, clinician and lecturer.

Matthew Slay is a euphoniumist with a music education degree from the University of South Carolina where he studied under Tuba/Euph professor, Ronald Davis. Before joining Musical Innovations as an education representative, he was a middle school band director. He also offers lessons on euphonium, trombone, and tuba.

After 43 dedicated years as a music educator, Joel Propst retired from teaching in 2021. Mr. Propst earned a Bachelor of Music Education from Pembroke State University, NC and taught several years in both North and South Carolina. Mr. Propst’s versatility as a musician and educator gave him opportunities to teach high school band, middle school band, middle school orchestra, middle school choir, elementary music, and a full-time special needs class.

Rachel received her bachelor’s degree in Piano Pedagogy from Bob Jones University and continued on for her master’s degree in Piano Performance while studying under Peter Davis. While in college, she participated in handbell and piano ensembles, taught private piano lessons, worked as the choral librarian for the Fine Arts department, and performed both piano solo and ensemble recitals.

Alex was born and raised in Greenville, SC. She was in color guard all throughout high school. While she was born to a musical family, she does not have an instrument specialty because, as she puts it, it leaves room in her brain for everything else. Alex’s specialties instead include our computer system, running the Musical Innovations Facebook, Instagram, and Tiktok accounts, graphic art and design, and customer service.

Bob Chest earned the Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education and the Master of Arts Degree in Clarinet Performance from Bob Jones University, where he taught woodwinds on the pre-college and university levels for over 40 years. Bob joined Musical Innovations as clarinet specialist and woodwind repair technician in the summer of 2019.