Venezuelan conductor Leonardo Pineda embodies a fusion of orchestral training, exceptional communication skills, and a refined conducting technique. He was described by composer Miguel Del Aguila as “An incredible conductor with a rhythmic clarity and musical structure that is very hard to find”. 

He was awarded the first prize in the Carlos Prieto Conducting Fellowship with Oacademy, leading to an invitation as an assistant conductor in Mexico. Following the Fellowship, the Oacademy team and artistic faculty described him as “A deep thinker, the exact kind of musician-leader that the industry needs for its future. He has taken a serious approach to his musical and technical development. What sets him apart is his willingness to engage with the challenges faced by the arts and to understand the responsibility of artists to audiences and communities. He is someone who has built an exceptional (and necessary) foundation for an ideal Music Director of the future." In the following year, Leonardo was invited to become an Associate Faculty member for Oacademy: on numerous occasions he has worked in the role of facilitator in large-scale lectures, and as a host of Q+A sessions with prominent musicians such as Carlos Prieto, Alexander Shelley, Marin Alsop, Leonard Slatkin among others. 

Leonardo's professional debut occurred when he assumed the conductor's podium, replacing Jose Luis Gomez (Music Director of the Tucson Symphony), and delivered a mesmerizing performance of Schoenberg's intricate masterpiece, "Transfigured Night." This successful debut earned him the role of resident conductor for the Classical Music Institute.

He has played a key role in CMI orchestra new heights, helping expand the orchestra's size and recruit a diverse group of musicians. Leonardo takes every opportunity to shape CMI’s outreach efforts, emphasizing the importance of storytelling and fostering community engagement activities. CMI’s collaborations with organizations such as OPERA San Antonio and Ballet San Antonio have led him to successful debuts in the pit for "The Nutcracker" at the H-E-B Hall. He served as cover conductor for OPERA San Antonio for the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons, working closely with the artistic team during productions of "Pagliacci," "Romeo and Juliet," "Hansel and Gretel," "Amahl and the Night Visitors," "Pirates of Penzance” among others.

Leonardo's conducting path was guided by Harold Farberman and James Bagwell at Bard College, affording him podium time with both the Bard Conservatory Orchestra and the Orchestra Now. He also had the privilege of working closely with Jose Luis Gomez, Leon Botstein, and Gemma New, further honing his craft. He was one of the selected participants worldwide to attend the European International Competition in Bulgaria  in 2020. As a violinist, he has played under renowned conductors such as Fabio Luisi, Gustavo Dudamel, Marin Alsop, Neeme Järvi, Valery Gergiev, Carlos Prieto, Leonard Slatkin, Domingo Hindoyan and Hans Graf.

Leonardo teaches at the renowned orchestral training program the Orchestra Now at Bard College, where he also leads an educational platform called TŌNteaches and he frequently conducts concerts for the Classical Music Institute.