He commands the majestic pipe organ at the Basilica, he supervises music for the Diocese of Charlottetown, and he conducts the Strathgartney Chamber Orchestra. This summer, Leo Marchildon will add a new musical accomplishment to his Island repertoire, composing the music for the 2016 Watermark Theatre productions of “Blithe Spirit” and “The Glass Menagerie”.
His musical skills were formed early at the famed St. Michaelʼs Choir School in Toronto, where he was a top student. This was the beginning of a path leading to degrees through The Royal Canadian College of Organists, The Western Conservatory, the University of Toronto and the University of Southern California.
Leo has toured with productions of “Phantom of the Opera,” “Kiss of the Spider Woman” and “Bugs Bunny on Broadway”. He worked as musical editor for the television series “The Adventures of Sinbad” and ”Gene Roddenberryʼs Andromeda”. But Leoʼs first musical love is composing. His compositions can be heard in the stage production “Millieʼs Girls,” the feature film “Gabriela,” and the documentary “Cell Block Scholars” (which earned him a regional Emmy nomination). Many Islanders will recall, of course, that Leo is the composer of the music for the stage production “The Nine Lives of L.M. Montgomery”, as well as “Canada, Our Dear Home”, his symphonic tribute celebrating PEIʼs culture and its role as the birthplace of Confederation.
The Watermark Theatre is delighted to have found a talent like Leoʼs here on the Island, and looks forward to working with him during the upcoming season.