In December 2025, Dr. Leslie M. Sabina, professor of Music and chair of the Department of Art, Music and Theater, was one of several musicians honored in Buffalo by the Buffalo Musicians’ Association (Local 92, American Federation of Musicians) for 25 years of service.

Most of Sabina’s performance activities in Local 92 center around participation in the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra as a member of its saxophone section, as well as with the BPO Jazz All-Stars big band. With the orchestra, he has accompanied artists such as Stewart Copland (of the Police), Kristin Chenoweth, Johnny Mathis, Idina Menzel, Megan Hilty, Ben Vereen and Matthew Morrison, and has played under many conductors, including JoAnn Falletta, John Morris Russell, Anthony Parnther, Marvin Hamlisch and the late Erich Kunzel. Before his 25-year tenure with Local 92 Buffalo, Sabina was a member of Local 566 Windsor, Ontario, and Local 149 Toronto, Ontario.