Gina Gruhn Leeker began her nearly lifelong relationship playing musical instruments when, at age 6, she taught herself to play a lap harp, a Christmas gift from her parents. Her favorite class in elementary school was music and she greatly admired the students who could play piano. She began taking piano lessons from Mrs. Vera Goodwin while in elementary school and later, at age 11 added violin under the instruction of Miss Judy Isaac and Mr. Paul Correll. In her middle school years, she began taking private violin lessons, studying under the tutelage of Mr. Carmine Ficcocelli in addition to her class instruction with Mr. Correll. During high school she also began to study voice, guitar, and flute. She became concert master of the Lindbergh High School Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra her sophomore year and retained that chair throughout the remainder of her high school years. She progressed to become the Concertmaster of the St. Louis Community College Orchestra at Meramec during that time as well.

She joined her mother in singing in the church choir at Concord Trinity Methodist Church while in upper elementary, middle school, and high school. She participated in many violin, piano, and vocal workshops through both Webster University and Washington University and performed in the pit orchestra each summer with Jerry Mateczek’s Musical theater. She sang in the Lindbergh Highschool Acapella Choir and Madrigal singers. She also played, both amateurly and professionally, in many other venues around St. Louis, including the Sheldon Theater, various church orchestras, freelance gig work, the Kirkwood Symphony, and the St. Louis String Ensemble under the direction of Carmine Ficcocelli.

She was a member of the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra and performed at Powell Symphony Hall. She continued her studies adding cello to her repertoire of instruments and piano instruction with Jazz pianist, Herb Drury while at UMSL. She received full ride performance scholarships to various colleges and, wishing to stay close to home began her studies as a music education major at University of Missouri St. Louis (UMSL), later transferring to SIU Edwardsville. During this time, she began studying violin privately with Mr. Fredryck Sadowski of the St. Louis Symphony whose instruction and understanding of pedagogy had a profound impact on her own teaching style as well as upon her performance

Ms. Gina became the first licensed Kindermusik instructor in Franklin County and though she no longer offers Kindermusik programs she continues to enjoy working with young children by tailoring special programs designed to meet the needs of her students. She currently serves as music director at Trinity Presbyterian Church and hosts student recitals there twice a year. She continues to perform professionally in a variety of venues around eastern Missouri. Gina Gruhn Leeker has been teaching music students since the 1970s. She enjoys working with students of all ages and abilities, including those with special needs, on a case by case basis. Many of her students have gone on to pursue careers in music performance and music education.