Armando León is musician and orchestra conductor originally from Tlaxcala, Mexico. He pursued his violin studies at the Universidad de las Américas Puebla (UDLAP), where he graduated with a Bachelor of Music (B.M.) Cum Laude after receiving a 100% Artistic Scholarship. Concurrently, he cultivated his musical artistic expression with a solid foundation in classical ballet. Currently, León is pursuing postgraduate studies at the Bulgarian National Academy of Music “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov” (Национална музикална академия “Проф. Панчо Владигеров”) in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Prominent figures in the world of symphonic music, including Christo Pavlov, Derek Gleeson, David H. Bretón, Lanfranco Marcelletti, Kenneth Kiesler, Gaétan Kuchta, Fernando Lozano, and Teresa Rodríguez, among other eminent maestros, have been fundamental in his development as an orchestra conductor. Additionally, his participation at the European Academy of Fine Arts (EAFA) in Bulgaria, the World Orchestra Conductors Summit 2018 in Spain, and the 22nd Conductors Retreat at Medomak in the US, significantly enhanced his preparation.
In his professional experience, Armando León is the founder of the Instituto Nacional de las Artes México (INAM), where he served as president (2015-2023), and was coordinator and artistic director of the university orchestras at the Universidad de las Américas Puebla (UDLAP) (2023-2024), an institution that encouraged the young conductor to pursue his master’s studies abroad.
In his burgeoning career, he has shared the stage with distinguished soloists such as Alexander Pashkov, Kai Orlinov, and Paola Gutiérrez Candia; and has conducted renowned symphony orchestras and ensembles including the Vratsa Symphony Orchestra in Bulgaria; the Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado de Puebla (OSEP); the Orquesta Típica del Estado de Puebla (OTEP); the Percussion Ensemble of the Benemérito Conservatorio de Música del Estado de Puebla; the Orquesta Sinfónica de Aguascalientes (OSA); and the Orquesta Sinfónica de la Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo (OSUAEH), among other orchestras and musical ensembles.
Throughout his professional trajectory, notable milestones include his debut in 2017, at the age of 19, upon receiving his first invitation as guest conductor in the Orquesta Sinfónica de la Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo (OSUAEH). In 2023, Armando León was awarded the “Outstanding Orchestra Conductor” prize by the Premios Tlaxcala “Nuestra Identidad” association. Recently, his dedication led him to become the youngest guest conductor to conduct the Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado de Puebla (OSEP) and as Music Director for the American premiere of La Bamba! A Musical by Paul Morrisey, with the UDLAP Musical Theater Company.
“Behind these lines resides the invaluable support and guidance of a tremendous team, that team: my family and teachers. To them, my eternal gratitude. What a blessing to share the profound joy of experiencing life through music!”
Armando León.
