Celso is one the pioneering members when the Manila Symphony Orchestra (then called the MSO II) was reorganized in 2001 and is currently the principal of the horn section. He has since performed with the orchestra in all its gala concerts, special concerts, ballet productions, outreach concerts, and tours including MSO Visayas Concert Tour , Candon Music Festival and MSO’s first international concert in the 5th Hunhe River Symphony Art Festival held in the Shenjing Grand Theater, Shenyang, China in 2019.

Celso was born into a family of musicians. He started learning to play the french horn at age 10 under his uncle Virgilio De Leon, a clarinet player. He is the third generation in his family to become a member of the MSO. His grand father, Maestro Felix M.de Leon, a well known band composer, was the principal trombone player under MSO’s founder, Alexander Lippay. His uncle, Pablo de Leon was also a trombone player under Dr. Herbert Zipper.

Though Celso studied Business Management in University of the East in Manila, music is his passion. He pursued a career as a French Horn player and went under the tutelage of Prof. Leopoldo Lopez and Danielle Kuhlman. He attended workshops on French horn including Cultures in Harmony under Danielle Kuhlman and Javier Bonnet Workshop.

Aside from his work in MSO, Celso is also a member of the Manila City Band since 1987.