Hans Leenders studied percussion at Rotterdam Conservatoire, where he graduated as a performing musician in 1995. He also studied orchestral conducting with, among others, Jorma Panula. In the same year, he received a permanent appointment as percussionist with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, where he later also became assistant conductor to Valery Gergiev. Since 1997, he has been teaching at Codarts, Rotterdam's conservatoire. In 1998, Hans became a finalist in the prestigious international Kirill Kondrashin conducting competition, after which he conducted almost all Dutch professional
