Leonardo Barilaro

Leonardo Barilaro was born in 1983. He began his piano studies with Dimitri Romano and then graduated from the Conservatory of Padua after attending classes under Franco Angeleri. He took part in several competitions for young players as a piano player accompanying violins, solo singers and choruses. In 2000 he was awarded the first prize of the S.Cecilia Piano Competition. Beside classical music, Leonardo has grown a deep passion for synthesizers and computer music, developing good skills in the use of software like Cakewalk Pro Audio, Steinberg Wavelab, Modplug Tracker and Sibelius. He has also been playing keyboard in different bands. Since 2003 he is a permanent member of Hypnotic Suggestions, where he composes and plays progressive thrash metal music. In 2004 he was chosen by Jordan Rudess for attending his unique European Masterclass in the class of Improvisation. Since september 2004 he is learning Fissita' with the writer Murasaki Shikibu and the pianist La Giova De Cecco. During the last two years, he has been developing some experimental projects based on musical collaboration only through the Internet. After taking a degree in Aerospace Engineering, Leonardo is now attending the International Piano Academy in Padua with Riccardo Zadra and Federica Righini.