Every moment has music in it. Every passion, thought, feeling, action… My job as a conductor is to bring those moments to every note we play.
Edward Leonard has established an outstanding reputation for his versatility and interpretation of an extensive repertoire. As founder and Music Director of The Chamber Orchestra of Pittsburgh, he has led the organization to substantial artistic growth since its creation in 2014. His comfort in diverse repertoire results in a conducting prowess and artistic command that spans the centuries.
Leonard’s programming as an Artistic Director and conductor extends from new works to masterpieces of the traditional canon, and under his leadership the Chamber Orchestra of Pittsburgh has commissioned a growing series of new works. Leonard has conducted the world premieres of pieces by Alyssa Wang, Marina Lopez, and Federico Garcia-DeCastro, as well as the Pittsburgh premieres of works by Amy Williams, Lou Harrison, and Jeffrey Nytch.
Mr. Leonard regularly performs as a guest conductor around the country, and his conducting engagements include work with the Canton Symphony Orchestra, the Allentown Symphony Orchestra, the Youth Chamber Connection Orchestra performing at the Chautauqua Institution, OvreArts New Music Ensemble, Savoyards Pittsburgh, the Midwest Chamber Ensemble, and the Eclectic Laboratory Chamber Orchestra. He also serves as a cover conductor for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
Mr. Leonard studied with Juan Pablo Izquierdo at Carnegie Mellon University, where he earned his Master’s degree in Orchestral Conducting. While there he prepared ensembles for conductors including Sir Andrew Davis, Erich Kunzel, Thomas Baldner, and David Effron. For five summers he attended the prestigious Pierre Monteux School for Orchestra Conductors in Maine, where he studied with Michael Jinbo.
