One of my brothers often says that our parents had “7+1 children,” because my seven siblings were born within just eight years... and then, fourteen years later, I came along. We grew up surrounded by music. There was always a Chassaigne Frères upright piano in the house—first in our family living room, and later in Ribadeo, where my family spends the summers. I remember my mother at the piano—she had studied it in her youth—and singing while accompanying herself on the guitar. My father, though he only played the harmonica as a hobby, was a true music lover. We listened daily to recordings from their extensive vinyl collection.

So, it was only natural that I began studying piano at a young age. My first teacher was José Ramón Martínez Reyero, and his lessons were so inspiring and joyful that I’m convinced I owe much of my decision to become a musician to him. I continued my studies with Beata Monstavicius and Joaquín Soriano in Madrid; with Rian de Waal in The Hague; and, thanks to a scholarship from the “la Caixa” Foundation, with Leonard Hokanson, Menahem Pressler, and Emile Naoumoff at Indiana University in Bloomington (USA). I hold a Doctorate in Music from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, where I studied with Christina Dahl.

Over the years, music has become for me a language of deep connection—from my earliest collaborations with the San Jorge Choir, where I spent over a decade playing alongside singers who shaped my personal and musical identity, to the concerts I’ve had the privilege of giving in many corners of the world (on every continent except Australia—one I hope to visit soon).

My journey has led me to perform in venues such as the National Auditorium of Music in Madrid, the Zaragoza Auditorium, and the Almudaina Palace in Mallorca, appearing with the RTVE Symphony Orchestra and in recitals with quartets including the Quiroga, Cecilia, and Penderecki. I’ve recorded for radio and television programs in Spain, the United States, Argentina, and Syria, and have received several awards, including the “Ciudad de Albacete” and the “Acisclo Fernández,” which was granted unanimously by the jury.

Teaching has long been a central part of my life. I’ve held faculty positions at universities in the United States, the United Arab Emirates, and Spain, and I currently teach at the University of Ottawa in Canada. The combination of performance and teaching fascinates me: the stage, the people I share it with, the audiences I perform for, and my students are all constant sources of learning and inspiration. I also enjoy organizing cultural events and have the privilege of leading some truly meaningful artistic projects.

When I’m not immersed in music, I love spending time with my wife, my family, and my friends. I’m passionate about great literature, hiking, and photography—and I feel entirely at home sailing.

More info: www.LeopoldoErice.com