Praised for his “assured and lovely” playing by Classical Voice of North Carolina, Dr. Leonardo Perez is currently Head of Strings and Assistant Professor of Violin and Viola at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he also conducts the Dalhousie Symphony Orchestra. Previously, he held the position of Instructor of Violin and Viola at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and was the Orchestra Director of the IUP Symphony Orchestra. He has been invited to give masterclasses at the University of Iowa, Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Sistema New Brunswick, among others.

An avid collaborator and chamber musician, Leonardo has made numerous appearances at concert series throughout the United States and Canada. For the 2021-22 season, engagements included several performances with the Music Room Chamber Players series in Halifax, NS, and appearances at the Antigonish Performing Arts Series and the Lunenburg Academy of Music Performance. Leonardo has also performed at the Musique Royale series in Mahone Bay, NS, Scotia Festival, and with Symphony Nova Scotia. Previously, he was the violinist of the Litton Piano Trio at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and has appeared regularly as a Next Generation Artist of the Four Seasons Chamber Music Festival in Greenville, NC, performing with artists such as Xiao Dong Wang, Michael Kannen, Hagai Shaham, Colin Carr, Melissa Reardon, Raman Ramakrishnan, Hye-Jin Kim, Emanuel Gruber, and Ara Gregorian. 

Leonardo has conducted the Pennsylvania Music Educator’s Association district orchestra and Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra, and as conductor of the Dalhousie Symphony Orchestra conducts two concerts a year at the Fountain School of Performing Arts.

Dr. Perez received his Bachelor of Music degree from East Carolina University. He holds a Master of Music (MM) degree in Violin Performance from the University of Southern California, an MM in Orchestral Conducting from East Carolina University and earned his Doctorate of Musical Arts (DMA) in Violin Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Iowa.

 A member of the Prince Edward Island Symphony Orchestra since 1991 and its principal clarinetist, Karem J Simon is thrilled to conduct today’s performance of Nova Sinfonia. Dr. Simon brings a wealth of musicianship and conducting experience to the podium. He is known as a passionate and sensitive musician able to inspire players and musicians of diverse backgrounds. Under his leadership, the UPEI Wind Symphony was transformed into one of the leading wind ensembles in this region. His progressive approach to programming and performance standard led to the creation of 22 albums with that ensemble.
Throughout his career, Dr. Simon has been a guest conductor with a variety of
ensembles, including the Prince Edward Island Symphony Orchestra, the National Youth Band of Canada, and numerous honour bands. He served as associate conductor of the PEISO from 2020-2023.
As a clarinetist, Karem remains active as a soloist, chamber, and orchestral musician. He has been a featured artist with the PEISO, the Saint John String Quartet, the Atlantic String Machine, and Gros Morne Summer Music. His album, Solitary Clarinet, released in 2022, is a collection of pieces for unaccompanied clarinet. It is available on all the major online music streaming platforms.