edd leech

tuba

Edward Leech is an orchestral freelancer and chamber musician specialising on tuba, and is also a professional pianist and teacher. He studied at the Royal Northern College of Music, where he was awarded a 1st Class Honours degree, and then at the Royal Academy of Music for a Masters degree, achieving a Distinction.

He has performed in a freelance role with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, English National Opera, Gabrielli Consort and Players, the Hyogo Performing Arts Orchestra of Japan and the Britten Sinfonia. Most recently he was appointed to the position of principal tuba with the Chroma Ensemble. 

Edward has also performed concertos on tuba with the Newbury Symphony Orchestra, Reading Symphony Orchestra, Windsor and Maidenhead Symphony Orchestra, Penzance Symphony Orchestra, Henley Symphony Orchestra and the European Youth Music Festival Symphony Orchestra. He has also taken part in solo events, winning the Newark Brass Festival Competition and the Windsor and Maidenhead Young Musician’s competition. Before this he twice reached the finals of the British Open Solo competition and was the highest placed brass player in the Concerto Competition while at the RNCM. 

Edward is a member of the prominent brass quintet Quintabile, whose recent performance successes include: runners-up in the Jan Koetsier International Brass Quintet Competition 2014; winners of the Audience Prize and overall runners-up at the 2014 St. Martin-in-the-Fields Chamber Music Competition; and winners of the 2013/14 Philharmonia-Martin Musical Scholarship Fund Chamber Music Award. The latter led to nomination as Concordia Artists and an opportunity to perform at the Purcell Room. Quintabile have also performed internationally, including by invitation at the 2013 Banff International Music Festival in Alberta, Canada, and also at recitals in France and Germany. 

Edward started playing the piano professionally from a young age, becoming resident pianist at a prominent local health club, and then at the South Hill Arts Centre in Bracknell. He also took on engagements at private functions and weddings. He is now a professional accompanist, and recent commissions have included performances on Cunard and P&O cruise ships. His recording debut recently took place following an invitation to perform piano alongside the All Star Brass quintet of America, which will be out on general release later this year. 

Edward would like to thank his sponsors for their generous support during his career to date, namely the Musicians’ Benevolent fund, the Countess of Munster Musical Trust, the Harold Craxton Memorial Trust, the Martin Musical Scholarship Fund and the Amaryllis Fleming Trust.