Léonie studied in Moscow, The Royal College of Music and The Royal Academy of Music in London. She has recently been awarded the honour ARAM, associate of The Royal Academy of Music. Léonie has been principal with Scottish opera, Orquesta Filarmónica de Gran Canaria, Manchester Camerata, Northern Ballet & Orchestra of the Swan, no.2 with The Royal Opera House, English National Opera, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and the Philharmonia and no.3 with Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. She has also played as a soloist for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham palace, recorded at Abbey Road and played with artists including Jason Donovan, Shirley Bassey and Jeff beck as well as performing live on radio around the world including BBC radio 3 & radio New Zealand as a soloist & a chamber musician. Léonie was the ‘cellist on the Tori Amos musical “The light princess” at the National Theatre in 2013-14. In the west end, she deputised on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Cinderella” until closing and ongoing since 2014, on Disney’s “The Lion King”.
Léonie has worked as education project leader for TDE, Orchestra of the Swan, The Three Choirs Festival & Ledbury Poetry Festival as well as having set up 3 series of community interactive children’s concerts. Léonie was the adjudicator for the Bedfordshire young musician of the year for 3 years, has frequently been orchestral cello coach at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance & was invited to be guest panel lecturer by Royal College of Music in early 2023. She has also taken masterclass days for the New Zealand Christchurch School of Music and The New Zealand Hawkes Bay music society, and been workshop leader for education projects in Christchurch schools which included ‘cello teaching, orchestral sessions and chamber groups. She has been the ‘cello, improvisation, chamber music and orchestral coach on various summer schools for many years, and has lead the ‘cellos and taken sectionals for the UK’s Rehearsal Orchestra every year since 2007. She has also been involved in the education outreach programmes with the major London orchestras including the Philharmonia, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra and English National Opera amongst others, and has participated in workshops in a variety of different institutions varying hugely in age, social background, financial resources, ability and capability of the participants, and have included special needs schools, care homes, hospices and nurseries.