Bruce Leto, Jr.

As a prize-winner in scholastic (Dora Khyatt); collegiate (Bi-Co Concerto Competition); national (Seattle International Virtuoso Artists Festival); and international (Quebec Music Competition; Canadian International; VI Odin) piano adjudications, Bruce Leto’s music tenure has enabled him to perform in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Florida, New York, and Italy. During his collegiate years, Leto received first prize in the Bi-College Student Concerto Competition, and performed the 3rd Movement of Gershwin’s Concerto in F with the Haverford/Bryn Mawr Orchestra. 

In 2021, Leto received first prize in the Grand Metropolitan International Music Competition (Professional Division – Piano), successfully winning his first-ever professional division as a soloist. Previously, he also received a silver award in the Progressive Musicians International Competition 2020 (Solo/Ensemble – Professional Division), where he made his Carnegie Hall debut (on February 22, 2022); third prize in the National West Chester Piano Competition; first prize in the Seattle International Piano Festival – Virtuoso Artists 2021 (19 and Up); placing as a finalist with special recognition for “championing the music of Charles and Curt Cacioppo” (Judge’s Citation) via the highly competitive American Prize competition (Professional Division, Solo); recognition via the World Piano Teacher’s Association (IPC Finland – 2020); second prize in the Charleston International Music Competition (Classical Piano, 2022); and second prize in the Grand Prize Virtuoso International Competition. 

During his collegiate years, Leto’s piano study under Linda de Pasquale and Curtis Cacioppo led to acceptance at the Chautauqua Music Festival and the Orfeo International Music Festival, where he studied in 2011. Presently, he studies under Scott Cohen on a performance-based scholarship at the Cohen School of Music.

Leto’s playing has been described as “kaleidoscopic,” “refined,” “intelligent,” “exceptional,” “multifaceted,” “poetic,” “lyrical,” and “highly skilled” by piano department chairs of music schools, critically-acclaimed international pianists, professional review outlets such as Take Effect, Fanfare, and Artisan Music Reviews, and Navona-affiliated composers. He has been featured in masterclasses with concert artists such as: Steven Mayer, Riccardo Piacentini, Veda Zuponcic, and Leon Bates.

“[In Seasonal Sonorities] Bruce demonstrates an impressive ability to interpret music from different eras, from romantic to impressionist, to the 21st century.” – David Carpenter, Composer (Navona Records)

“Played with great care and sensitivity…Bruce Leto is an intelligent and highly-skilled musician.” – Charles Abramovic, Department Chair Piano Studies (Temple University)

In 2020, Bruce released his album — GOMITOLO! An Interpreter’s Tribute to a COVID-Stricken Europe — with Navona Records, which received a silver medal at the Global Music Awards in 2020, and airplay on UMFM radio. In May 2021, Leto’s album Singing Style — released with Albany Records — received airplay via WRTI 90.1 Classical, KGNU After FM, and reviews from Fanfare Magazine in addition to another silver medal at the Summer 2021 Global Music Awards, and silver at the Spring 2022 World Classical Music Awards via Curt Cacioppo’s Dans Le Parc. Lastly, Singing Style received a rare 9/10 review rating by Tom Haugen of Take Effect on June 10th, 2021, and was henceforth submitted to the GRAMMY’s (First Round) by Albany Records.