Michael was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, and raised in Walla Walla, Washington, the older of two sons born to H. Lloyd and Donna Hudson Leno. He grew up surrounded by music, his father being a brass teacher and director of bands and brass ensembles at Union College and then Walla Walla College, now University. He started lessons at an early age and was active in both band and choirs throughout his elementary and academy school years, enjoying particularly his work under music teacher Gordon Finch.

Following graduation from Walla Walla Valley Academy in 1973, Leno attended WWC, where he again was active in music and completed a B.A. degree in theology and music in 1978. His performance area was clarinet, which he studied under Sherrick Hiscock.

Although his work has been primarily as a pastor, he taught band and choir at Emerald Junior Academy in Oregon during the 1979-1980 school year and later directed the elementary choir at Camelback Thunderbird Elementary School in Scottsdale, Arizona, from 1994 to 1996. In his work as a pastor, Leno has been active in directing and serving as a member in choirs and instrumental groups in church settings. He presently directs a small vocal ensemble in the Ontario, California, SDA church.

Leno, who married Sondra Damazo in 1997, completed an M.A. in religion at La Sierra University in 2011.

ds/2011