Leo Popplewell
Cellist
About
Born in 1995, Leo Popplewell studied at Clare College, Cambridge, before winning a scholarship to study with Louise Hopkins at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
An experienced recitalist, Leo has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Barnes Music Festival, Newbury Spring Festival, Orpheus and Bacchus Festival, Cambridge Summer Music Festival, Lake District Summer Music Festival and Highgate International Chamber Music Festival. He has played in masterclasses for Louise Hopkins, Adrian Brendel, Pierre Doumenge, Tim Lowe and Alexander Baillie at the International Cello Gathering, Brian O’Kane at the Machynlleth Festival, and for Steven Isserlis at Wigmore Hall.
In 2017 he formed the Mithras Piano Trio, winning first prize in 10th Trondheim International Chamber Music Competition, the 67th Royal Over-Seas League Annual Music Competition, Cavatina Intercollegiate Chamber Music Competition 2019 and St. James Chamber Music Competition 2018. They were selected as Kirckman Concert Society Young Artists for the 2019/2020 season, and have performed in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Room and Milton Court Concert Hall among others. He has also collaborated with the Wihan, Chilingirian and Heath Quartets, and the Frith Quartet.
He played as principal cellist in the National Youth Orchestra, and has also led the section of the Guildhall Symphony Orchestra under the batons of Vassily Sinaisky and Marin Alsop.
His studies have been generously supported by the Countess of Munster Musical Trust, Craxton Memorial Trust and Coro Nuovo.