Leonardo Soto

Recently appointed Principal Timpanist of the Charlotte Symphony, Leo Soto also served as Principal Timpanist of the Michigan Opera Theatre, Detroit Opera House for 6 seasons, where he was part of the world premier of 2 American Operas.
  Begun his Bachelor degree at the University of Chile where he received the “Teatro Municipal of Santiago National Scholarship” for 4 years. At the same time he was trained as Latin percussionist by his own father Mr. Leonardo Soto Sr. who is one Chile’s most famous musicians in the field.                               
  Mr. Soto begun his professional career as a substitute Percussionist with the Santiago Philharmonic Orchestra and the National Symphony of Chile, gaining experience in Orchestral, Opera and Ballet repertoire.
  In 1997 he received the “Fundasion Andes” International Scholarship, to finish his education at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, with Timpanist Tim Adams from the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. After relocating in the United States, Mr. Soto has worked with ensembles such as the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, touring Internationally, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, New World Symphony, Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Toledo Symphony, Canton Symphony, Charleston Symphony, and City Music Cleveland, among others. Also as Latin Percussionist Mr. Soto has record and tour with a number of artist and bands from the Pennsylvania, Southern Michigan and New York area.
  In 2009 Mr. Soto was made an Honorary student at Cleveland State University, by his last teacher Mr. Tom Freer of the Cleveland Orchestra
  Mr. Soto often travels back to Chile to perform recitals, master classes and clinics at the National University and the Youth Symphony Organization, where students arrive from different parts of South America. He also keeps a private studio, where he actively teaches both classical and Latin percussion alongside with clinics and master classes around schools, universities and summer camps.