Leo Najar and the Bijou Orchestra (photo by Andy Rogers)

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Leo Najar, Musical Face of the Great Lakes Bay Region, Dies Unexpectedly

May 17, 2011
By: Dave Rogers

Leo Najar, 58, one of Michigan's most prominent musicians for over three decades, died Monday while visiting his family home in Grand Rapids.

Mr. Najar was a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and a graduate of Ottawa Hills High School and the University of Michigan.

He was the Music Director of the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra from 1980 through 2003. During that time, he produced concerts, chamber programs, operas, radio programs and a rich variety of thematic and educational programs, presenting over 4,000 community performers of many disciplines on stage with the Symphony.

From 1980 through 2003, Leo produced concerts, chamber programs, operas, radio programs and a rich variety of thematic and educational programs, presenting over 4,000 community performers of many disciplines on stage with the Saginaw Symphony and his own Bijou Orchestra in Bay City.

He has served in artistic leadership positions with The Midland Symphony Orchestra, Ohio Chamber Orchestra, Ballet Michigan and the symphony orchestras of Flint, Dearborn and Traverse City.

Najar, who was director of music and chancel choir at First Presbyterian Church in Bay City, in 2001 served as a special advisor and principal guest conductor to the National Orchestra of El Salvador under the auspices of the American State Department. He has given important premieres including works by Astor Piazzolla and Philip Glass.

His curiosity about less familiar European musical traditions led to the first American concert dedicated to the classical music of Slovakia in Severance Hall in 1999, and in 2003 he was awarded the prestigious Cikker Prize by the foundation of that name in Slovakia in recognition of his work to further interest in Slovak music. That prize led to a spring, 2004 concert tour with the State Chamber Orchestra of Zilina, which in turn generated an invitation to perform with the State Radio Orchestra in Bratislava in the future.

Ardent in pursuit of new audiences, his innovative concerts have been widely acclaimed. An accomplished arranger, he has written well over 200 works that combine the orchestra with a rainbow of groups that include traditional ensembles such as chorus, gospel choir, jazz and bluegrass quartets to steel drums, klezmer and zydeco bands.

Mr. Najar has had a distinguished career as a teacher, serving on the faculties of The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and in Flint, Georgia State University, Central Michigan University, Wayne State University, the National Music Camp at Interlochen, the Bay View Festival and Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp.

A popular clinician and workshop presenter, he has conducted the Michigan and Florida All-State high school orchestras as well as the Georgia Music Educators High School Orchestra Festivals and numerous regional events.

In spring, 2003, he realized that the immense repertoire for the American theater orchestra and its intimate scale presented the perfect vehicle to pursue his programming interests. This led to the creation of The Bijou Orchestra; an ensemble that presents a wide range of programs in a format that was the primary American orchestral fashion for nearly 100 years. The orchestra has toured to Canada for performances and they are featured guest artists at the Traverse City Film Festival.

He has served as a board member of the Conductors Guild, President of the Michigan Orchestra Association, and an evaluator for the National Endowment for the Arts and the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs. He was proud to be a Rotarian and was involved in community affairs, serving on the Bay City Downtown Management Board and the Public Affairs Committee of the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Najar was also Director of Music at First Presbyterian Church in Bay City and most recently as Director of The Bay Concert Band.