Cellists Henry Shapard and Leo Melvin join the section, with Shapard as co-principal
The London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) has announced the appointment of two new cellists, with US cellist Henry Shapard taking up the role of co-principal and UK cellist Leo Melvin joining the section.
Shapard is graduate of Yale University with a degree in History, and studied with cello teachers including Ole Akahoshi and Richard Weiss. He departs the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, where he was appointed principal cello in 2020 at the age of 21. Shapard has performed as guest principal cellist of the LPO and the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, and as the guest co-principal of the Oslo Philharmonic. He was also a professor of cello at the Vancouver Academy of Music from 2023–2025.
Leo Melvin is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, UK, and has studied with teachers including Richard Lester, Kleif Carnarius, Claudio Bohórquez, and Troels Svane. Melvin has been a member of the Villiers Quartet, the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe Academy, and has performed regularly with the LPO and London’s Philharmonia.
Both Shapard and Melvin officially begin their new roles with the LPO this month.
Read: My audition journey: Hugh Klüger, London Philharmonic Orchestra
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