Len Rhodes has worked as a professional musician since he was thirteen when he was appointed organist at Clock House Methodist Church in Beckenham, Kent. His organ mentor, Dr. Douglas Hopkins - (1902-1992), who was Master of the Choristers at Sandhurst from 1971 to 1976, had previously been Sub-Organist of St Paul’s Cathedral, Organist of Peterborough and Canterbury Cathedrals and, immediately prior to his appointment at Sandhurst, Organist of St Marylebone Parish Church in London. He was, for many years, a Professor at the Royal Academy of Music and an examiner for the Associated Board. The story surrounding his departure is somewhat amusing. It was on the Spring morning that the clocks went forward by one hour. The inevitable happened, and the redoubtable Doctor forgot to set his alarm to BST and dutifully appeared at the Chapel an hour late, just as the preacher entered the pulpit. Shortly after the service Dr Hopkins announced to Padre Brian Pugh that maybe the time had come to ‘call it a day’. He retired shortly afterwards. Dr Hopkins was appointed in his sixty-ninth year and retired when he was seventy-four - was a significant influence; as were his professors - Georgina Zellan-Smith, and Ruth Harte. He received his diplomas from the Royal Academy of Music, and the London College of Music. Len also studied composition at Morley College, University of London. Among many churches he served, he was also organist and choir-master at Central Methodist Church, Bromley, Kent - before he moved to the USA.

He received the Pikes Peak Arts Council/Arts Business and Education Award for his work with the Pikes Peak Young Composers. This non-profit organization based in Colorado, which he founded in 1995, offers young composers the opportunity for professional critique of original compositions in the annual competition as well as concert opportunities for the performance of their original music. Pikes Peak Young Composers now receives enquiries and entries from throughout the world. Pikes Peak Young Composers also offer an annual workshop at Colorado College each July where young musicians spend a week developing their original music. Len is very active on a day-to-day basis with this organization; holding the positions of both Artistic and Executive Director.

He is currently Director of Music, Choir Master, and Organist at Lord of the Mountains Lutheran Church in Dillon, Colorado. Len was recently featured in an article in the Summit Daily News, in Colorado. He performs regularly in concert, recently appearing with the violinist Brian Hanly; see listing in - http://www.interlochen.org/crescendo/motifs-0

Len recently appeared as Narrator in three peformances of Lemony Snicket's "The Composer is Dead!" with the Colorado Springs Philharmonic Orchestra.

His many composing and arranging credits include Trinity College of London, the Virginia Shakespeare Festival, and BBC Radio. Many of his original compositions, transcriptions, and arrangements can be found here on his web-site.

His performance credits include the Edinburgh Festival; the Cathedral of St. Sulpice, Paris; Banqueting House in Whitehall, London, for members of the Royal Family - as well as literally thousands of engagements throughout the US and Europe.

His teaching credits include music history at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, and Colorado Mountain College; as well as public and private schools in the U.K. and U.S. He teaches organ, piano, composition, ear training, theory and harmony in his private studios in Colorado Springs, and Silverthorne, CO. Many of Len's former students are members of orchestras and (name!) bands throughout the world. Many others are successful teachers. Encouragement from his students and colleagues prompted Len to establish "lenrhodesmusic.com."

The International Summer Academy of Music (ISAM) in Michelstadt, Germany invited Len to participate on the adjudicating panel in 2007. The inaugural ISAM-Dillon (Colorado) is planned for July 2010.

Len presented his lecture "Composition in the Private Studio" at the 2005 National Music Teachers Association annual convention in Seattle, WA and has been in demand as a clinician ever since. He has recently published a book on the subject - "Teaching Composition in the Private Music Studio" - which is now available as a download on this site.

Len is a proud member of the following professional organizations: The Incorporated Society of Musicians (UK), ASCAP, The Royal College of Organists (UK), The Guild of Church Musicians (UK), and the American Guild of Organists.