Scott Leichliter of Bullskin has honed a talent for music since he was a boy.

Starting with a guitar, Leichliter moved on to become a master at almost every instrument that he has touched.

Now, Leichliter performs and offers music instruction on all types of instruments and voice.

Although he attended Seton Hill and received bachelor's degree in music education, Leichliter never thought that he would be fortunate enough to make a living at his trade in a rural setting.

"Everyone told me that I would have to move to a big city to make a living at this," Leichliter said. "City life is not for me."

Plus, if he would relocate to a larger metropolitan area, he would have to give up his other passion: farming.

"I would be really lost without farming," Leichliter said, "I enjoy raising my sheep and chickens and I also have a garden."

Leichliter said he realized as a boy that his talent for music would flourish.

"When I was five or six, my grandfather got me a guitar," Leichliter said. "We used to go to the Kecksburg firemen's fair every year and they had this talent contest. So one year that we went, my grandfather smuggled my guitar into the car and I performed. For a 6-year-old, I did really well."

Without having a formal lesson, Leichliter hit the stage for the first time and soon acquired a violin.

Leichliter then began to take lessons, and at age 7, he entered the fiddling contest at the fair.

"All I wanted was one trophy," Leichliter said, laughing, and he worked away at his craft until he received one. Then another and another.

Among his numerous awards, Leichliter went on to become the Pennsylvania State Fiddlers champion in 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1989.

As a boy, he met Jake Zelmore at the Kecksburg fair, and he joined Zelmore's band.

Leichliter has played for high school productions, played with the Westmoreland Choral Society and the Westmoreland Symphony, was part of the Wheeling Jamboree and is a member of the Brass Knuckles band.

Although Jake Zelmore no longer travels with the band, Leichliter, along with friend Terry Hall, plans to continue bringing the band to local functions.

"Jake wants us to continue to play," Leichliter said.

The musician has about 50 students, ranging in age, taste and talent.

"I teach everyone whatever they want to learn," said Leichliter, whose classes run from voice to piano, "I have students 5 to 95."

Although the only member of his family to ever formally take up any type of music, he hails from a long line of music lovers, and Leichliter thanks his mother, Donna Leichliter, and his grandparents, Lloyd and Mary May, for his passion and love of the art.

"I always enjoyed the fiddling contest at the Kecksburg fair and I always wanted to have some of that music in my life," Donna Leichliter said.

Leichliter has received so many trophies, awards and plaques that he long ago lost count, but he knows how lucky he is to have his talent take him so far.

"I feel blessed that I am able to make a living with my music," he said. "It's something that I have always enjoyed."

Leichliter lives in Bullskin with his sons, Mathew and Benjamin. He also has a CD that features his fiddle music that is available at his home studio.

Play or listen

For lesson information or show booking information, contact Leichliter at 724-547-4994.

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