Maestro combines lead and gold (9)
I believe the answer is:
conductor
'maestro' is the definition.
'lead and gold' is the wordplay.
'lead' becomes 'conduct' (synonyms).
'and' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'gold' becomes 'or' ('or' is the heraldic name for gold).
'conduct'+'or'='CONDUCTOR'
'combines' acts as a link.
This may not be correct. It may belong to another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for conductor that I've seen before include "Director - band leader" , "Orchestral director" , "Director of an orchestra" , "Train guard" , "who may wave his hands about?" .)