Leda Mileto

JRNCM Tutor

BMus, MMus, PGDip

Email: [email protected]

Leda Mileto (2000) is a violinist, Dalcroze practitioner, and educator from Rome, Italy based in Manchester since 2021.

As a “Dalcroze baby”, Leda was educated in music from the age of two through the approach. She was raised in a musical home and started singing, playing the piano, and improvising from early on, listening to a variety of styles that shaped her passion for music – classical, as well as baroque and jazz. These experiences led her to strongly believe in the importance of the body and collectivity in music education, performance, and appreciation.

She entered the Conservatoire in Rome at the age of thirteen. Her early mentors include Felice Cusano and Edoardo Zosi.

Leda graduated in 2020 from Carmen Staffieri’s class, having already been selected for Yair Kless’s class at the RNCM – Royal Northern College of Music for her Masters, with support from the Charles Greenough Award. Here, she formed the awarded Aestus String Quartet (2021-present), mentored by Donald Grant, and attended both Dalcroze modules at College with John Habron-James and Karin Greenhead.

The Aestus are currently mentored by Gabriel Le Magadure at the Sergei Rachmaninov Conservatoire in Paris. Recently, the ensemble was selected for the 2023/2024 Britten Pears Young Artists program and shortlisted for the 2024 Royal Philharmonic Society Henderson Chamber Ensemble Award.

Leda had the chance to present her research, tutored by John Habron-James, at the ICDS – International Conference of Dalcroze Studies in 2021. This was based on Martin Heidegger’s philosophy of being-there, and applied to the Dalcroze approach’s physical, active presence and embodiment in historically informed musical practices.

She is currently training with Dalcroze UK towards the Professional Certificate, having already passed her Rhythmics, Aural Training, and Improvisation exams with Highly Commended.

Leda obtained her Master’s degree (2022) and later a Postgraduate Diploma (2023) from the RNCM with a prize scholarship, while also learning privately with David Takeno (2022-2024). She is currently mentored by Caroline Pether.

In 2024/2025, Leda was part of the Ruth Sutton Fellowship cohort of Manchester Camerata. In May 2025, she was shortlisted for the Craxton Memorial Trust Awards.

Leda plays a Johannes Cuypers violin of the year 1797 on generous loan from the Harrison Frank Family Foundation, with her Edwin Clement bow.