معرفی
Katherine M. Leo serves as Associate Professor of Music at Millikin University's School of Music, holding dual doctorates in Musicology (Ph.D., 2016, The Ohio State University) and Law (J.D., 2015, The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law). Since joining the faculty in 2017, she has taught western music history, ethnomusicology, and legal studies through traditional, hybrid, online, and travel courses. As chair of academic music core studies, Dr. Leo has revolutionized musicology and music theory curricula while designing innovative micro-credentials to prepare students for professional success.
- Education: Ph.D. in Musicology (2016, Ohio State University), J.D. (2015, Ohio State University Moritz College of Law)
- Current Position: Associate Professor of Music, Millikin University School of Music
- Leadership: Chair of academic music core studies, Research advisor for James Millikin Scholar honors program
- Professional Affiliation: Active member of Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra as author, speaker, and cellist
Dr. Leo's research focuses on forensic musicology, investigating the history, methods, and ethics of musical expert testimony in copyright cases. Her principal scholarship examines the intersection of musicology and copyright law, with particular expertise in early-twentieth-century US commercial music styles. She has published extensively on Duke Ellington, the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, and Paul Whiteman, contributing to major reference works including Grove Music Online and the Oxford Handbook of Public Music Theory. Her 2020 monograph Forensic Musicology and the Blurred Lines of Federal Copyright History has been praised for being 'meticulously researched, and sparely and clearly written.'
Dr. Leo's fifteen most recent publications demonstrate a consistent trajectory toward increasingly sophisticated analysis of music copyright cases, with growing emphasis on the ethical implications of forensic musicological analysis. Her work spans traditional musicological journals, legal publications, and interdisciplinary venues, reflecting her unique position at the intersection of music scholarship and legal practice. Recent publications show expanded focus on racial implications in music copyright and historical analysis of jazz commercialization.
- Research and Artistic Achievement Award (2025)
- JMS Educator of the Year (2021)
- Active contributor to Music Copyright Infringement Resource (MCIR) blog
As a research advisor for the James Millikin Scholar honors program, Dr. Leo mentors high-achieving students while maintaining an active performance role with the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra. She has presented at national meetings of the American Musicological Society, College Music Society, Copyright Society, Society for American Music, and Society for Music Theory, as well as international conferences across England, the European Union, and North America. Since 2019, she has participated in music copyright matters as amicus curiae, consulting analyst, and freelance expert witness.
