The viola and Solomon Leonard go hand in hand. A 23-year-old Master of Music student at the USC Thornton School of Music, Solomon has built a musical identity that extends far beyond the traditional boundaries of classical performance. A graduate of Oberlin College and Conservatory, his breadth of study includes Black American Music, West African folkloric music, Cuban and Brazilian musical traditions, and Indian Carnatic music, alongside his primary focus on classical viola performance.
Solomon has distinguished himself through both artistic achievement and professional experience. In 2023, he won First Prize in the National Association of Negro Musicians (NAMN) Strings Competition, one of the nation’s most prestigious competitions dedicated to supporting Black classical musicians. He also served as Associate Principal Viola of the Oberlin Orchestra during its 2022 performance at Carnegie Hall in conjunction with the United Nations.
His performance career has included appearances on some of the world’s most prominent stages. In 2020, he performed at the Grammy Awards alongside renowned artists including Lang Lang and Joshua Bell. He was also a contributing musician to the Academy Award-winning animated short film If Anything Happens I Love You.
Currently, Solomon studies with Karen Dreyfus at USC Thornton. His previous teachers include Peter Slowik and Dr. Minor Wetzel, and he has worked with distinguished violists such as Tabea Zimmermann and Juan-Miguel Hernandez through festivals and masterclasses. His second album, Senior Exit, was released in August 2025 and is available on all major streaming platforms.
