Leo Chelyapov

Clarinetist /Saxophonist LEO CHELYAPOV is versatile classical/world and jazz musician graduated from the Moscow College of Musical Arts and emigrated to Hollywood in 1992.  Since that time he has taken America by storm with his infusion of pure, traditional Jewish folk music into the fabric of American popular culture. Leo performed on the soundtrack for the Howard Stern film Private Parts, and played clarinet for the Passover comedy When Do We Eat? by Salvador Litvak (2006). He has performed with popular rock bands Porno for Pyros and The Red Hot Chili Peppers. He has been featured on Late Night with David Letterman, MTV, and at Madison Square Garden. Leo Chelyapov is an accomplished composer and arranger. He was commissioned to arrange Klezmer Dances for the world famous Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, recorded on Sony Classical. He also recorded two CDs with Hollywood Klezmer.  Leo's other performances include concerts at the University of Judaism with jazz luminaries Buddy Collette, Abe Most, Herb Jeffries and Bobby Rodriguez; the Playboy Jazz Festival (2002); a Clarinet Concerto with Los Angeles Jewish Symphony by David Stern (2004); and a performance with Neil Sedaka at the Wilshire Theater. In 2005, Leo was faculty of Contemporary Jewish Classical Music for clarinet and bass-clarinet at the International Summer Music Academy in Michelstadt (ISAM).  In 2013, Leo played woodwinds for the run of  "When you are in Love, the Whole World is Jewish" directed by Jason Alexander. Last few years, Leo was freelancing with several classical and world/jazz music ensembles and organizations including Classical Underground, The Krysalis Ensemble, Valadez Ensemble at Disneyland California Adventure Park, 8th Day Band, The Orphics, and recording for film music and teaching privately out of his studio in West LA. Currently, Leo Chelyapov teaches at Ohr Eliahu Academy in West Hollywood,  also gives private lessons, and works with Sonic Symphony as woodwind specialist arranger.