Bruce Leto, Jr.

As a prize-winner in scholastic (Dora Khyatt); Collegiate (Bi-Co Concerto Competition); national (Seattle International Virtuoso Artists Festival, West Chester Piano Competition); and international (Sound Espressivo International Competition) piano adjudications – Bruce’s music tenure has enabled him to perform in PA, NJ, FL, NY, and Italy. During his collegiate years, Bruce received 1st 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. Previously, Bruce also received a Silver Award in the Progressive Musicians International Competition 2020 (Solo/Ensemble – Professional Division) – where he made his Carnegie Hall Debut (on 2/2/22); 3rd Prize in the National West Chester Piano Competition; 1st Prize in the Seattle International Piano Festival – Virtuoso Artists 2021 (19 and Up);  1st Prize in the Seattle International Piano Festival – Virtuoso Artists 2022 (Adult, Professional Division); Finalist Placing with Special Recognition – Championing the Music of Charles and Curt Cacioppo (Judge’s Citation) via the highly competitive The American Prize (Professional Division, Solo); and, Prizewinner Recognition via the LIVE Audition of Sound Espressivo Music Competition, March 2024. During his collegiate years, Bruce’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. 

Bruce’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 2020, Bruce released a CD (“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, Bruce’s CD “Singing Style” – released with Albany Records – received airplay via WRTI 90.1 Classical, KGNU After FM, appearance(s) (via “Apparition”) on Chuck Cacioppo’s Selected Recordings section of the Wilfred Laurier music faculty page (this piece was also featured during Chuck’s presentation at Cleveland State University), and reviews from Fanfare Magazine (in addition to another Silver Medal at the Summer 2021 Global Music Awards). GMA additionally honored Bruce’s 2023 Independent Release “Campane Nuziali e Balli” – a tribute to Bruce’s wife after their wedding in 2023 – with Outstanding Achievement recognition.