Douglas J. Leibinger is Director of Jazz Performance Studies at the University of Missouri-Columbia, where he directs Jazz Bands I and II, teaches jazz improvisation, coordinates the MU Jazz Festival and oversees the combo program.

A Chicago native, Dr. Leibinger holds Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees in Jazz Performance from the University of Miami. Dr. Leibinger is an experienced big band director and clinician; he served as conductor of UM's Studio Jazz Band for four years, directed Coral Park High School's jazz band from 1996-1998, and recently led the Miami-Dade All-County high school jazz band. He was a trombone soloist on the University of Miami Concert Jazz Band's recording of Maria Schneider's Three Romances, which was nominated for a Grammy award in 2004. Doug also plays piano, guitar, and bass guitar, and is an accomplished arranger/composer. His residence in South Florida for the past 18 years led to professional engagements in a wide variety of styles, including jazz, rock, blues, salsa, Broadway, and Latin pop. His performing/recording/touring credits include Chayanne, Sean "P Diddy" Combs, Jose Luis "El Puma" Rodriguez, Jimmy Buffett, Sam Moore, Roberto Torres, Les Elgart, Jerry Lewis and many more.

MU Jazz Performance Studies Website