Cofounder of AllTogetherNow! kept music and meditation at the core of her life
On November 29, 2022, Ellen Gilbert Leonard, 61, passed peacefully in her home, held by her family and friends in a nest of love and song. She was born in 1961 to R. Webb Leonard and Betty McGee Leonard in Belleville, N.J. The youngest of four children, she attended the Vershire School and graduated from Skidmore College. Early on, she made her own way in the world, and the giving of joy and spirit through music was at the heart of her way. At age 19, she gave birth to Aaron in a lean-to built by her husband George Jones on Martha’s Vineyard. Soon after, she moved to Vermont to continue her education, which had at its core a lifetime practice of meditation. She taught Aaron to meditate at 3 years old, and that is still a big part of his daily practice. Ellen’s mother was an initiate of Kirpal Singh. In 1985, she married James LaPaglia, and Sophia and Aliza were born soon after at home, with help from midwife Judy Luce. At that time, another midwife, Katra Kindar, started teaching an Afro Cuban prenatal dance class, with live drumming by Stuart Paton. For more than 35 years, Ellen would sing, dance and teach the life-sustaining songs and rhythms of this Afro Cuban tradition. Also, for more than 17 years, she sang and danced as part of Midnight Capers, a Morris dance troupe. Throughout the '80s and '90s, Ellen taught music in central Vermont schools, including in Cabot and Waterbury. Ellen also taught private music lessons and Music Together to preschoolers. Her collaboration with Janice Walrafen included leading the song and dance for All Species Day, Enchanted Forest, Ice on Fire, First Night Montpelier and more. She collaborated and performed with Emily Lanxner on many projects and performed with Dragon Dance Theater. In the words of Katie Trautz, a music student whom she mentored, "She was a rock star.” And, in fact, she was a rock star, having been a touring member of the rock band Uproot. In 1995, Ellen had a handfasting ceremony with Chris Miksic. Aaron, Sophia and Aliza would grow up with Chris’ three children, Erin, Galen and Amber, in Plainfield through 2003. In 1999, Ellen opened the AllTogetherNow! Preschool as her part of the vision that she and Janice dreamed up. They had been teaching, organizing summer camps and hosting seasonal celebrations for years, and…
Cofounder of AllTogetherNow! kept music and meditation at the core of her life
On November 29, 2022, Ellen Gilbert Leonard, 61, passed peacefully in her home, held by her family and friends in a nest of love and song. She was born in 1961 to R. Webb Leonard and Betty McGee Leonard in Belleville, N.J. The youngest of four children, she attended the Vershire School and graduated from Skidmore College. Early on, she made her own way in the world, and the giving of joy and spirit through music was at the heart of her way. At age 19, she gave birth to Aaron in a lean-to built by her husband George Jones on Martha’s Vineyard. Soon after, she moved to Vermont to continue her education, which had at its core a lifetime practice of meditation. She taught Aaron to meditate at 3 years old, and that is still a big part of his daily practice. Ellen’s mother was an initiate of Kirpal Singh. In 1985, she married James LaPaglia, and Sophia and Aliza were born soon after at home, with help from midwife Judy Luce. At that time, another midwife, Katra Kindar, started teaching an Afro Cuban prenatal dance class, with live drumming by Stuart Paton. For more than 35 years, Ellen would sing, dance and teach the life-sustaining songs and rhythms of this Afro Cuban tradition. Also, for more than 17 years, she sang and danced as part of Midnight Capers, a Morris dance troupe. Throughout the '80s and '90s, Ellen taught music in central Vermont schools, including in Cabot and Waterbury. Ellen also taught private music lessons and Music Together to preschoolers. Her collaboration with Janice Walrafen included leading the song and dance for All Species Day, Enchanted Forest, Ice on Fire, First Night Montpelier and more. She collaborated and performed with Emily Lanxner on many projects and performed with Dragon Dance Theater. In the words of Katie Trautz, a music student whom she mentored, "She was a rock star.” And, in fact, she was a rock star, having been a touring member of the rock band Uproot. In 1995, Ellen had a handfasting ceremony with Chris Miksic. Aaron, Sophia and Aliza would grow up with Chris’ three children, Erin, Galen and Amber, in Plainfield through 2003. In 1999, Ellen opened the AllTogetherNow! Preschool as her part of the vision that she and Janice dreamed up. They had been teaching, organizing summer camps and hosting seasonal celebrations for years, and…