Leonid Plashinov-Johnson, viola (Russia/UK), has been a member of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra since the start of the 2019/2020 season.

Leonid is a laureate of multiple competitions, most recently the Primrose International Viola Competition and the NEC Concerto Competition. He has performed as a soloist with orchestras including the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the NEC Philharmonic Orchestra, the Sofia Chamber Orchestra and the AIMS Festival Orchestra. Recent engagements have included tours across Europe and Asia, as well as concerts with Jacob Collier, the Parker and Verona quartets, and the Covent Garden Soloists Ensemble.

As a chamber musician, he has participated in the Yellow Barn and Ravinia Festivals in the United States, and the AIMS Festival in Spain.

Leonid graduated from the New England Conservatory in 2019, studying with Kim Kashkashian and serving as her teaching assistant. Russian born, he began playing the violin at the age of three. After moving to the United Kingdom, he was awarded a place at the Yehudi Menuhin School, where he studied the violin under Lutsia Ibragimova. After switching full time to the viola, he studied with the principal violist of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Andriy Viytovych until moving to the United States. Previous Yellow Barn musician (2016)