A native of Boston, Patricia Leonard received a degree in composition from The Boston Conservatory of Music. Principal composition teachers include Larry Thomas Bell and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer David Del Tredici.

Vocal works include the song cycle Demonstrations of Love; and the musical Imagining John both with text and music written by the composer, and My Dearest Friend, a song cycle based on the letters of John and Abigail Adams. This cycle had its world premiere in Boston on October 3, 2014 and featured soprano Wendy Bryn Harmer, and baritone John Moore, backed by an orchestra led by conductor Sean Newhouse.

Ms. Leonard is a founding member of New York Composers Circle. She is also a Board member of The League of Composers/ISCM, and a member of New York Women Composers and International Alliance of Women in Music. Also an opera judge, Ms. Leonard panels the annual Violetta DuPont, Gerda Lissner and The Licia Albanese – Puccini vocal competitions for aspiring young opera singers.