Tour Dates: 1 July - 12 July, 2010

“...Simone walked through this realm showing flawless technique and temperament. She can go further...”
- Luiz Paulo Horta, O GLOBO

Biography
Performances
Reviews

Biography
Known for her intense vitality, ample technical means, strong rhythmic drive and fire in her performances, Simone Leitão continues to rise as one of the most exciting pianists of her generation to emerge from Brazil. Simone always performs at her highest level and is not afraid to take risks. Her performances are full of character and even the most standard pieces sound fresh in her hands.

The Brazilian pianist Simone Leitão, born in Minas Gerais, lives in the United States where she graduated as DMA (2009) in piano performance at the University of Miami, Frost School of Music, in the studio of Ivan Davis (pupil of Vladimir Horowitz), with a minor degree in Musicology. Simone Leitão was a teaching assistant of the Keyboard Department of the institution. This highly competitive position granted her a full scholarship and stipend.

Simone Leitão holds a Master Degree in Piano Performance from Norges MusikkHögskole (The Norwegian Academy of Music), Oslo, where she graduated from the studio of Geir Braaten (pupil of Yvonne Lefebure) in 1996 and BM in Music Education at the University of Rio de Janeiro, 1993.

While in Brazil, Leitão received her piano training from Linda Bustani (pupil of Iakov Zak), Homero Magalhães (pupil of Alfred Cortot and Bruno Seidlhofer) and Fernanda Canaud. Since her debut in Rio de Janeiro at the Brazilian Conservatory concert Hall in 1987, Simone has performed in many major Halls in her country as well as abroad and was laureated at many important national and south-american international competitions. She has frequently performed as a soloist and chamber musician in Brazil, USA, Denmark, Switzerland, Germany and Norway and toured with the Grammy Award winner, Norwegian violinist Ole Böhn in Brazil.

In 2006, Leitão was one of the finalists at the International Villa-Lobos Competition in São Paulo, Brazil, where she performed at Sala São Paulo. She was awarded Honorable Mention at the 2006 Concerto Competition at the University of Miami, with her performance of the Rachmaninoff second concerto.

Simone has played solo recitals for nationwide TV Senado and TVE as well as nationwide public radio Radio MEC in Brazil.

Master Classes include: International Keyboard Institute and Festival at Mannes College of Music, New York 1999 (Classes with the eminent British critic Bryce Morrison and Bulgarian pianist Pavlina Dokovska); Rencontres Musicales de Genèvè, 1995 (classes with Christine Paraschos, USA and Sergei Senkov, Russia) and Thy Masterclass, Denmark 1994 and 1995 (Paraschos, Igor Laszko and Senkov).

With a prolific repertoire which ranges from Byrd, Bach and Rameau to Guarnieri, Villa-Lobos, Prokofieff, Scriabin and Rachmaninoff, Simone is a curious and creative interpreter who is able to find always, a more communicative way to present the music of the past and present to the 21st century audience.

Simone's 2009 concert season includes a fully sponsored tour in Brazil's most important music venues, recitals in the U.S., the launching of the Brazilian Classical Series, and the release of her first CD. Her repertoire for this season is dedicated solely to German composers.

Reviews:

“Simone left an excellent impression...the climax was Prokofieff's Sixth Sonata. There is everything in this piece for a great pianist. Simone walked through this realm showing flawless technique and temperament. She can go further.”
- Luiz Paulo Horta, O GLOBO

For booking inquiry please contact:

Mr. Ma Ran
Head of the Marketing Department
Tel. +86 10 5165 0798 ext. 18
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