Cassandra Leighvard was born in London, England on January 2, 1981.  She was very blessed to have parents that valued education and the arts.  She began piano studies at the age of 6 at a private School in London called St. Christopher's located in Beckenham.  At the age of 8, Cassandra's family moved to the suburban town of Cheshunt in Hertfordshire.  At this time, her interest in composition sparked under the tutoring of her most influential piano teacher, Daphne Brown, graduate of the Trinity College of Music.  

At the age of 9, Cassandra took up the violin in addition to furthering her piano studies.  She earned several medals of distinction from the Trinity College of Music for her piano playing during her childhood and early teen years.  But when she was asked to learn the oboe by her Secondary School Music Director, little did she know it would mark the beginning of a life-long passion.  She won many awards of distinction in oboe performance from the Royal College of Music in London during her teenage years. 

Cassandra began playing the piano weekly for Church services at the age of 12.  During this time, she trained herself to play by ear.  Cassandra has functioned as a professional vocal coach/accompanist since 1996, first serving the East Herts Operatic Society in England.  Then, Cassandra's family relocated again in 1997 to Florida.  She played the piano for various Churches in the Orlando area until enrolling in University.  At the age of 20 she received her Bachelors degree in oboe orchestral performance with honors from Stetson University in DeLand, Florida.

Cassandra studied theory pedagogy and music composition under the tutoring of Dr. Kari Juusela.  She then took up the bassoon with Ashley Heintzen which she continued with Jeff Keesecker in Tallahassee, at Florida State University.  Cassandra furthered her piano studies with Edit Palmer and Heijun Byun.  She then went on to graduate from Florida State University with a Masters degree in oboe performance in 2003.  Florida State University provided her several opportunities to perform on the dulcian and shawm with the Early music Ensemble, some of these performances were broadcast on public television.

Currently works in Central Florida maintaining a private studio where she teaches piano, voice and music theory.  She functions as a free-lance pianist frequently performing in special events such as weddings all over the state.  She serves as the keyboardist for Eagles' Nest Baptist Church in Orlando and plays two to three piano recitals at Nordstrom Department Store at the Florida Mall every week.  Cassandra also enjoys composing and arranging music in her spare time.  Starting in July 2008, Cassandra will be pianist onboard the cruise ship 'Norwegian Sky' indefinitely which sails to the Bahamas twice a week.