Leonhard Kreutzmann

Germany

Leonhard Kreutzmann, born in Bonn in 2003, is among the most promising conductors of his generation. In autumn 2024 he was appointed Chief Conductor of the KHG-Orchester Freiburg, having previously led the Central Swiss Youth Symphony Orchestra in summer 2024. He is currently a scholarship holder of the Forum Dirigieren of the German Music Council, supporting the nation’s most distinguished emerging conductors.

Highlights of the 2025/26 season include his work as Assistant Conductor to Dirk Kaftan with the Beethoven Orchester Bonn at Beethovenfest Bonn, where he also conducts a performance of the world premiere of Die Odyssee at the Theater Bonn. Further engagements this season see him leading Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique, making guest appearances with the Nuremberg Symphony, and conducting at the Murten Classics Festival.

Recent milestones in his career include debuts with the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra, the Bern Symphony Orchestra and performing at the Konzerthaus Freiburg. During his studies he has already worked with renowned orchestras such as the Basel Chamber Orchestra, Sinfonieorchester Wuppertal and the Slovak Philharmonic.

Kreutzmann continues his conducting studies at the Zurich University of the Arts with Professors Christoph-Mathias Mueller and Johannes Schlaefli, following earlier studies in Frankfurt with Professor Vassilis Christopoulos. He has participated in masterclasses with Paavo Järvi, Michael Sanderling, Jorma Panula and Ole-Kristian Ruud, has also received further valuable impulses from Cristian Măcelaru.

Coming from a family of musicians, Kreutzmann began cello lessons at the age of four before also studying piano and trumpet. He has won multiple prizes at the national “Jugend musiziert” competition and is currently pursuing cello studies with Orfeo Mandozzi in Zurich. His training has also encompassed vocal studies with Thomas Heyer, nurturing his close collaboration with singers and reinforcing his passion for opera.

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