 Mr. Leonovich is a big proponent of Eastern European, Spanish and former-Soviet music, not to mention new music. He has collaborated with Kimbo Ishii-Eto in the Cleveland premiere of Khachaturian's Concerto-Rhapsody and with Gary Ciepluch in the Cleveland premiere of De Meij's Casanova. As an active recitalist, Leonovich frequently collaborates with Daniil Trifonov, Elizabeth De Mio and Jeanette Aufiero. His compositions and arrangements are heard around the world. In 2010 the Cleveland Orchestra's principal trombone Massimo La Rosa recorded Yuriy's arrangement of Rossini's Barber of Seville overture. This recording, which appears on La Rosa's "Cantando" album, marked Leonovich's commercial recording debut. Other supporters of Yuriy's music include the Spirale Piano Trio and the New Zealand viola ensemble Viola Viva: The Next Generation. In 2006 Leonovich became the first composer to complete Tchaikovsky's Cello Concerto. This grand project would have been impossible to complete without the help of Brett Langston, who generously provided sketches and ideas for the piece. The article about this project can be found at www.tchaikovsky-research.org. Leonovich is also the first composer to transcribe Stravinsky's Rite of Spring for cello-octet. Following his vision of expanding the standard cello repertoire, Yuriy is currently working on a research document on Gaspar Cassado's cello concertos. In addition to music, Yuriy actively coaches Slavic-language diction, cooks gourmet and ethnic Ukrainian food, studies etymology of Slavic and Romance languages, and serves the Lord (Colossians 3:23). PSALM 150 |
