Leo Wanenchak has been Associate Conductor of the Baltimore Choral Arts Society since 2000.  In addition to preparing the chorus for the their subscription concerts, Leo has prepared the Chorus for appearances with the Baltimore Symphony under conductors Marin Alsop, Andy Einhorn, Jack Everly, John Storgårds, and Yuri Temirkanov.  With Choral Arts he has performed notably with Dave Brubeck, Peter Schickele, and Kathy Mattea.

Mr. Wanenchak is the Director of the “Larks,” a women’s vocal ensemble, community service project of the Junior League of Baltimore.  He developed and is musical director of “ParkinSonics” choral ensemble for the Maryland Association for Parkinsons Support in conjunction with the Johns Hopkins Center for Music and Medicine.  He has served as Director of the Children’s Chorus of Maryland, The Maryland Camerata at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, and on the faculty of the Peabody Preparatory Department as Director of Arts for Talented Youth, chair of the piano department and member of the Dean’s Council. 

He brings a dynamic energy that is inspiring and truly engaging as an accomplished conductor, pianist, organist, vocalist, educator, composer and clinician.  With his unique expertise, he has contributed countless concrete and inventive training methods to the realm of music education.  As a graduate of Peabody Conservatory, Leo brings decades of training and experiential knowledge to his teaching and to the mentoring of other music teachers.  He is especially skilled in discovering and combining those educational techniques that work best for a particular class or student.  Frequently, called on as a mentor, workshop leader and clinician, he has worked with choirs at every level in schools and churches with educators, The American Guild of Organists, The Chorister’s Guild and piano guilds.

Formerly the Academic Dean and Director of  The Walden School’s Choral Program, He mentored young composers and as a performer has given literally thousands of world premier performances.  With the founding generation of the Walden School Leo founded Avivo.com, Creative, Comprehensive & Customized Education for Musicians. Throughout the United States Leo’s appearances include performances at Carnegie Hall, Riverside Church and Grace Cathedral.   Performances abroad have brought him to England, France, Germany, Greece, The Czech Republic, The Netherlands and Rumania. He sustains a large private teaching studio in Bolton Hill, Baltimore and is published by Boosey and Hawkes.