Piano
In 1981, Ms. De Leon graduated from the Escuela Nacional de las Artes (ENA) in Cuba with double concentration in piano performance and professor of theoretical subjects of music. Upon graduation, she began her professional life both as a performer and an academic. Ms. De Leon proceeded to graduate from the Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA) in Havana, Cuba with degrees in Piano and Musicology. As a pianist, Ms. De Leon has performed in numerous concerts and recitals in various concert halls in Cuba, including the Lecuona Sala del Gran Teatro de La Habana, where she participated in several “Days of Cuban Culture.”
In 1986, Ms. De Leon received a Special Mention as accompanist at the III International Guitar Competition in Havana, Cuba. She accompanied numerous graduation recitals at ISA, ENA and A. Roldan Conservatory, as well as in national competitions for the A. G. Caturla, G. Tomas and P. Concepcion conservatories.
In addition to her experience as a performer, Ms. De Leon was Head of Music Theory and Solfeo at the Escuela Nacional de las Artes (ENA), and a member of the National Commission of Solfeo. She also served as the Head of Theoretical Subjects and thesis tutor at ENA. Simultaneously, Ms. De Leon worked at the A. Roldan Conservatory. Upon her graduation in Musicology, she became a professor at ISA. At the same time, Ms. De Leon worked as a Music Specialist on the National Musical Direction of Radio at the Cuban Institute of Radio and Television (ICRT), where she was also a member of the jury in their XII to XX National Radio Festivals, Festival of the Cuban Song, and “Days of Music.” She won the Jury Prize for ICRT in International Guitar Competition in Havana, as well as served as a member of its organizing committee. Ms. De Leon has been a speaker at various festivals and events, including the ISA’s 5th Scientific Conference and the International Colloquium “Boleros de Oro.”
In 1999, Ms. De Leon traveled to Barcelona, Spain, where she taught at the Franz Liszt Studio, was a piano accompanist at St. Cougat Art School, and performed several times with Catalan tenor, Fernando Bañó. In 2000, Ms. De Leon was invited to work at the prestigious Conservatory of Las Rosas in Morelia, Mexico, where for 10 years she was Head of Ear Training at their College of Teachers. During this time, she was also a professor and pianist at the People’s School of Fine Arts in the Michoacan University of San Nicolas de Hidalgo.
Ms. De Leon has performed together with acknowledged masters, such as the Russian violinist and violist Guella Dubrova and Bulgarian bassoonist the late Lazar Petrov. She performed in the Opera “King Crow” by Luis J. Cortez at Ocampo Theater. In 2009 she was Master of the Choir in the zarzuela, “La Verbena de la Paloma,” for which she also starred. She formed part of a duo with Mexican violinist A. Hernandez at the Cultural Center of the Michoacan State, with whom she performed in various cities throughout the state.
Since 2011, Ms. De Leon lives in Miami, Florida. She is a pianist at the Vivaldi Festival presented by the Miami Conservatory each year. She has also worked as the Master Pianist in Musical Therapy at several local nursing homes and has directed international religious orchestras. Most recently, she formed L&L DUET with Cuban flutist Diana Lopez. Ms. De Leon has formed a part of the Conchita Espinosa Conservatory of the Arts faculty since 2012.
