Leo Eguchi

Boston-based cellist Leo Eguchi, has been described as “copiously skilled and confident” (New York Times) with performances that were "ravishing" (New Bedford Standard-Times) and "played with passion and vitality" (Boston Music Intellegencer).

A native of Michigan, Leo has performed extensively across North America, Europe and Asia.  He enjoys an active and multi-faceted A native of Michigan, Leo has performed extensively across North America, Europe, Australia and Asia. He enjoys an active and multi-faceted performance schedule – Leo can be heard in myriad chamber music settings, including cellist and co-founder of the Willamette Valley Chamber Music Festival and Sheffield Chamber Players; in larger ensembles as principal cellist of the New Bedford Symphony, a member of the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra, the New Hampshire Music Festival and the Portland Symphony; and frequent appearances with the Boston Pops.

A strong advocate of new music, Leo has worked closely with, and premiered dozens of solo and chamber works by many notable composers such as Jessie Montgomery, Gabriela Lena Frank, Osvaldo Golijov, Reena Esmail, William Bolcom, Bright Sheng, George Crumb, Lukas Foss, Joan Tower, Ken Ueno, Yehudi Wyner, and Daniel Bernard Roumain.

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With the belief that music can be a powerful force for change, Leo's personal projects focus on social justice and community building. Recent examples include the immigration themed UNACCOMPANIED project, with eight new commissions for solo cello by immigrant and first generation American composers (as featured by such media outlets including The Strad Magazine, The Violin Channel and WGBH radio); and Shared Spaces, which paired new works by Kenji Bunch with David Sakura's personal story of Japanese American internment during WWII.

Other recent solo performing highlights include being a prize winner at the 2021 ProCello International Cello Competition, several GRAMMY nominated recording releases from Parma recordings, multiple concerto appearances, an artist residency and solo performances in Kabul, Afghanistan, and opportunities to share the non-classical stage with the likes of Pete Townshend, Queen Latifah, Melissa Etheridge, Demi Lovato, Brian Wilson, Kelly Clarkson, Peter Gabriel, Billy Idol, Jennifer Hudson, Nick Jonas, Josh Groban, and Audra McDonald, to name a few.

Leo is on the music faculty of Boston College, and is the Assistant Conductor of the MIT Symphony Orchestra. His degrees include a BM (Cello Performance) and BS (Physics) cum laude from the University of Michigan, and MM (cello performance) from Boston University, where he received the String Department Award for Excellence. Leo, along with violinist wife Sasha Callahan and cat-obsessed daughter Freya, live in Boston and spend their non-musical time time appreciating the outdoors, food, and wine.