Our Story
Our story with León is one of music and affection. Each of us arrived to León following our individual paths, but we found the same things: a Foundation that offers musicians an ambitious stage, led by generous and intelligent people, a warm and engaging audience, a welcoming city full of charm, culture and history. Thinking of giving back some of the good that León has given us and animated by the same values, we created this project.
We believe that being excellent as a human being is the golden key to being excellent as a musician.
We firmly believe that music should be a sister to ethics, and that the highest peaks are reserved for those who are willing to work relentlessly on themselves.
We believe that to be a top performer in music you must be a top performer away from the instrument.
The official co-organizers are WPTA Spain and WPTA Italy, which have welcomed over 2.000 young musicians from all over the world in the last few years.
Founders
Giuseppe Devastato
Where there is a will there is a way, this has been my motto since I was a child, together with values such as respect for oneself, for others and for music.
I have always believed in dreams, even in the face of obstacles, and when I made my debut at the Carnegie Hall in New York as a pianist and composer, I was certain that all the sacrifices I had made were worth it. I am one of the last heirs of the Neapolitan School of Piano of S. Thalberg and I have more than twenty years of career expereince divided between performing on a stage and teaching. (read my biography by clicking on the links below)
I wanted to create my own methodology “The science of piano technique” by revisiting and bringing in my own musical-technical research. My mission is to facilitate the study of the piano, through a method based on the science of movement, motor control, and a deep knowledge of the elements of composition and musical phenomenology.
I believe in sharing and that there is no absolute truth in music. I think each of us should feel free to express ourselves and bring out our personalities in the service of music.
“The mediocre teacher tells, the good teacher explains, the superior teacher demonstrates, the great teacher inspires.”
William Arthur Ward
Cristina Cavalli
Having gained a long and multifaceted experience between performing and teaching, helped me came to a conclusion: I believe in change, and that everyone can achieve great things if they really want to.
I personally didn’t think I could achieve great things, but a few years later I was making my debut at Shanghai Symphony Hall.
I now teach Principal Piano for High Specialization courses in Madrid, at Musical Arts, and masterclass when I am guest of other institutions.
When I realized that I could help others implement powerful, life-giving, motivating and effective change processes, I created the Ad Libitum project, of which The Mindful Pianist masterclass is a part. Help other makes me happy, and my goal is make people understand how to increase their power and what they can reach, enjoying the process every moment.
I believe in excellence as a tool for self-realization, that within every difficulty lies an opportunity to grow and improve, and that the tools to seize this opportunity can be placed in the hands of everyone.
“Your level of success will seldom exceed your level of personal development, because success is something you attract by the person you become.”
Jim Rohn
