Hailing from the city of Chicago, Milton Rubén Laufer began playing the piano at 3 years of age, and his training includes studies at the Music Institute of Chicago, the Gnessin Institute, the Eastman School of Music, the University of Michigan, and Rice University. 

Laufer has graced some of the world’s most iconic venues including Lincoln Center, New World Center, and Tchaikovsky Hall and has shared the stage with legendary artists like Natalie Cole, Chucho Valdés, and Guerassim Voronkov. His appearances on Spanish-speaking television and radio have transcended borders, captivating audiences throughout Europe, South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. A versatile artist, Laufer’s portfolio includes performing, arranging, production, and sound reconstruction credits across renowned labels including Naxos, Bis Records, Beauport Classical, and Zenph Sound Innovations. His competitive highlights include the silver medal at the 1987 Stravinsky Awards International Piano Competition and gold medal at the 45th Nena Wideman International Piano Competition.

The son of celebrated Puerto Rican Flamenco dancer, Carmen Alonzo, Laufer is internationally acclaimed as a leading interpreter and scholar of Spanish piano music. He is a lifetime member and founding trustee of the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame and an active voting member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (GRAMMY® awards) and Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (Latin GRAMMYs). His editions of Spanish masterpieces, 3 Improvisaciónes para Piano and La Vega by Isaac Albéniz are published by G. Henle Verlag of Munich. 

He resides in Syracuse NY where he serves as director of the Setnor School of Music at Syracuse University. Laufer is a Yamaha artist.

Albums

Angels Rising

Release Date: August 16, 2024
Catalog Number: NV6657
20th Century
21st Century
Concertos
Piano
Wind Ensemble
Following their 2023 United Kingdom Remembrance tour, The Syracuse University Wind Ensemble returns to the airwaves with two world premiere recordings on ANGELS RISING: MUSIC OF REMEMBRANCE AND LIGHT. The ensemble has commissioned dozens of new works for their genre, the two most recent being Frank Ticheli’s Angels Rising and Energy and Light by Syracuse’s own Natalie Draper, both of which commemorate the 35 Syracuse University students lost in the 1988 Lockerbie bombings. Draper and Ticheli’s tributes to the 270 total lives lost in the attack on Pan Am Flight 103 are bookended by performances of George Gershwin’s An American in Paris and Rhapsody in Blue in this Navona Records release, and are all available to experience in both stereo and Dolby Atmos immersive audio formats.