[1] He has had a distinguished career as a soloist, chamber musician, principal cellist and teacher.
He was a winner of the Walter Naumburg Competition while a student at the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied with Leonard Rose and Orlando Cole.
Two years later Mr. Leonard became principal cellist of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and at that time began teaching at the Eastman School of Music.
During this entire period he has been very active as a soloist, chamber musician and teacher.
From 1993 to 2003, he held the prestigious post of "Gregor Piatigorsky Endowed Chair in Violoncello " at the USC Thornton School of Music.