Ophiel Maarten van Leer studied music, conducting and singing in the Netherlands with Reinier Wakelkamp, David Porcelijn and Kerry Woodward. He graduated from the Utrecht conservatory in 1989, and joined the master classes of Uwe Gronostay and the Netherlands Chamber Choir, of Frieder Bernius and Fabrice Bollon.

In the Netherlands he conducted three big oratorium choirs, several chamber choirs, a symphony orchestra and a jazz choir. From 1990 to 2003 he teached music at the Rudolf Steiner schools in Amsterdam, Utrecht and Zeist. Today he is teaching music at the Rudolf Steiner school in Wiesbaden.

In his own projects he is working with professionals as well as amateurs. For eight years he conducted a-capella-music for "Musica nel Mendrisiotto" in Ticino (Switzerland). In the Rhein-Main area he conducted MainzVocal und  the jazz- and gospel choir Chorios. Today he is the conductor of a symphonic wind orchestra and the mixed choir Singphonie. He is also a performing counter tenor.