London-born Cellist, Leo Melvin is twenty-five years of age. He has recently graduated with honours from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he studied on a full scholarship, with Richard Lester. Leo started cello lessons at the age of five and from the age of seven to eighteen learnt with Sebastian Millett as a music scholar at the London Oratory School. From the age of ten he was a member of the Royal College of Music Junior Department, where he won all the major prizes, culminating in a performance of the Saint-Saens Cello Concerto. He was a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and played in all the major concert halls including the Royal Albert Hall in the BBC Proms. More recently, Leo has performed several Concerti (such as the Dvorak, Schumann, Haydn D major and Brahms Double) with various orchestras such as Sinfonia D’Amici and Kings Sinfonietta and recorded a solo cello track for Howard Goodall’s CD release ‘Enchanted Voices.’ During his time at GSM&D Leo took part in masterclasses with such eminent musicians as Gary Hoffman, Tim Hugh and Susan Tomes. In September 2013, Leo was invited to play with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe on their Academy Program and performed with the orchestra in Dijon. Leo then moved to Hamburg to study with professors Kleif Carnarius, Claudio Bohorquez and Troels Svane. He has since moved back to London and has formed a string quartet with his brother Will Melvin, Cassi Hamilton and Julia O’Riordan. Future plans involve further development of this quartet as well as the Melvin piano trio - with Will Melvin and pianist Jongsun Woo.
Leo studied with me for 4 years at the Guildhall. He has much talent and determination and, from the start, I was impressed by his considerable ability at the cello and a serious and passionate attitude to study. He has a highly developed musical intelligence and is constantly open to new ideas and challenges. Leo is an excellent and accomplished cellist and has a fine future in the profession.