Leon Gee
WMSO Conductor

Leon was born in Middlesex and, having received formative musical training as a violinist, studied conducting at the Birmingham Conservatoire under Jonathan Del Mar where he founded his own ensemble, the Arcana Chamber Orchestra. Further studies ensued in the Czech Republic, at Dartington with Diego Masson, and with British Youth Opera under Peter Robinson.

As British Arts Council Young Conductor, Leon was appointed founder Music Director for the London Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (1991-94). Subsequent guest engagements have included the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Shanghai Symphony, as well as many of this country's leading non-professional orchestras. He has also served as Music Director for orchestras including the Northampton Symphony Orchestra, British Police Symphony Orchestra and, most recently, the Oxford Symphony Orchestra (1996-2005).

Leon has recorded for BBC Radio and has performed at many of the UK's leading venues including London's Royal Festival Hall and Symphony Hall, Birmingham. He has worked with distinguished soloists including Artur Pizarro, Lars Vogt, Anthony Marwood, Freddy Kempf, Robert Cohen, Lucy Parham, Susannah Glanville, Barry Tuckwell, Tom Poster and Jack Gibbons.

Much in demand with younger orchestras, recent and ongoing work in this field includes conductorship of Junior Guildhall Symphony, Oxford University Orchestra, Pro Corda and Berkshire County Youth Orchestra. In 1996 Leon was conferred an Honorary Member of the Birmingham Conservatoire, where he has appeared as guest conductor since 1993, more recently also supervising postgraduate conductor training. Leon is currently Conductor of the Worcestershire Youth Orchestra and has recently been appointed to the staff at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama.