Leonhard Baumgartner was born in 2007 in Austria as the oldest of four children into a musical family. From 2010 he received lessons in violin according to the Szilvay method, as well as singing in the children’s choir Nano with intensive rehearsals, rhythm training and voice training as well as concerts. The six years in this choir shaped him very much. He currently attends the ninth grade of the Bundesgymnasium Mödling Keimgasse and studies violin at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz with Regina Brandstätter.
Leonhard attended master classes with internationally renowned musicians such as Maxim Brilinsky, Georg Hamann, Paul Roczek, Gerhard Schulz, Ingolf Turban and Pavel Vernikov. He is also a scholarship holder at the Music Academy Liechtenstein and regularly participates in the intensive weeks and activities held there.
Leonhard is a laureate of prestigious national and international competitions. He is a multiple first prize winner with distinction and special prize of ESTA (European String Teachers Association) at “Prima la Musica” at state and national level. In 2021 Leonhard won the second prize at the international competition “Il Piccolo Violino Magico”. The competition was livestreamed by Violin Channel. At the Kronberg Academy 2021 he was awarded the “Manfred Grommek Special Prize” after a concert performance. He won further first prizes at the “International Antonio Vivaldi Competition” 2018 in Vienna, at the “Odin International Music Online Competition” as well as at the “Iscart International Music Competition”, where he received 100/100 points and thus the first prize with the highest score. Leonhard won further first prizes at the “International Clara Schumann Competition” in 2021, the Danubia Talents “Vienna Classics Competition”, the “IMMC – International Moscow Music online Competition” and the “London Young Musician”. In London, he was also awarded the “Platinum Award” and thus qualified to participate in the “Musician of the Year 2022 Competition” in London.
Leonhard has experience with chamber music in various formations from duo to quintet. In 2021 he participated in the chamber music project Mit Musik Miteinander (With Music Together) of the renowned Kronberg Academy and took part in sponsorship projects of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, where he played in the opera camp in Salzburg as well as in the Camerata Prima la Musica Vienna. In 2018, he was concertmaster in a youth chamber orchestra in Austria. He also performs as a soloist with orchestra in festivals and concert series as well as competitions.
Leonhard is currently listed as a scholarship holder by PE- Förderungen Mannheim.