Performer and Teacher

Praised for his “assured and lovely” playing by the Classical Voice, Leonardo Perez is currently Head of Strings and Lecturer of Violin and Viola at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Previously, he held the position of Instructor of Violin and and Viola at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and was the Orchestra Director of the IUP Symphony Orchestra.

 As an active performer and presenter of chamber music, Leonardo was the violinist of the Litton Piano Trio and has appeared regularly as a Next Generation Artist of the Four Seasons Chamber Music Festival in Greenville, NC, where he has performed with artists such as Xiao Dong Wang, Michael Kannen, Hagai Shaham, Colin Carr, Melissa Reardon, Raman Ramakrishnan, Hye-jin Kim, Emanuel Gruber and Ara Gregorian.  He has also performed tours throughout the state of Iowa as first violinist of the Voce String Quartet, collaborating with violist Elizabeth Oakes, and has appeared as violinist of the Opus 3 Piano Trio. Leonardo has premiered and recorded music for composer John Ross as violinist of the University of Iowa Center for New Music Ensemble.

 Leonardo has performed with multiple orchestras throughout the United States, such as the Des Moines Symphony Orchestra, Quad City Symphony Orchestra, Long Bay Symphony and Richmond Symphony, and has appeared as soloist with symphony orchestras throughout North Carolina, including the Raleigh Symphony Orchestra.

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 A dedicated and enthusiastic educator, Leonardo has been invited to work with students at the East Carolina University Summer Chamber Music Institute, and coached undergraduate chamber ensembles at the University of Iowa as an Assistant Chamber Music Coach. He has also coached chamber music at the Preucil School of Music in Iowa City, IA, and worked with numerous high school string programs throughout Pennsylvania. As an advocate for outreach initiatives, Leonardo has worked with students in interactive concerts throughout Iowa, Pennsylvania, California and North Carolina.

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As a conductor, Leonardo has conducted the ECU Symphony Orchestra and the ECU Chamber Orchestra, collaborating with faculty and conducting new music for the North Carolina New Music Initiative. Previously, he was the Assistant Conductor of the Eastern Symphony Orchestra. He will be conducting the Dalhousie University Symphony Orchestra during the 2018-2019 season.

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Leonardo received his Bachelor of Music degree from East Carolina University. He holds a Master of Music degree in Violin Performance from the University of Southern California, and a Master of Music degree in Orchestral Conducting from East Carolina University with doctoral studies at the University of Iowa. His principal teachers include Ara Gregorian, Hagai Shaham, Scott Conklin and Dora Mullins.