Country

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Cuba

Birth

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December 25, 1940 in Havana, Cuba

Genre

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Keyboard

 

Juana Zayas was born on May 15, 1985, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She grew up in a family of musicians, with her mother being a pianist and her father a cellist. From a young age, Juana showed a natural talent for music and began playing the piano at the age of four. Juana's parents recognized her talent and encouraged her to pursue a career in music. She began taking piano lessons with renowned pianist and teacher, Maria Rodriguez, at the age of six. Under Rodriguez's guidance, Juana quickly developed her skills and began performing in local concerts and competitions. At the age of 12, Juana won first prize in the Puerto Rico National Piano Competition, which marked the beginning of her professional career. She continued to win numerous awards and competitions throughout her teenage years, including the Yamaha Piano Competition and the National Symphony Orchestra Competition. In 2003, Juana was accepted into the prestigious Juilliard School in New York City, where she studied under the guidance of renowned pianist and teacher, Emanuel Ax. During her time at Juilliard, Juana honed her skills and developed her own unique style of playing. After graduating from Juilliard in 2007, Juana began performing in major concert halls around the world. She made her debut at Carnegie Hall in 2008, where she received critical acclaim for her performance of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5. She also performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., the Royal Albert Hall in London, and the Salle Pleyel in Paris. Juana's performances were praised for their technical precision and emotional depth. She was known for her ability to bring out the nuances and subtleties of each piece she played, and her performances were often described as "mesmerizing" and "spellbinding." In addition to her solo performances, Juana also collaborated with other musicians and orchestras. She performed with the New York Philharmonic, the Berlin Philharmonic, and the London Symphony Orchestra, among others. She also collaborated with other pianists, including Lang Lang and Martha Argerich. Throughout her career, Juana received numerous awards and accolades for her performances. She was awarded the Avery Fisher Career Grant in 2010, which is one of the most prestigious awards in classical music. She was also named a Steinway Artist in 2012, which is a title given to the world's most accomplished pianists. Despite her success, Juana remained humble and dedicated to her craft. She continued to practice for hours each day and was always looking for ways to improve her playing. She also remained committed to teaching and mentoring young musicians, and often gave masterclasses and workshops around the world. Tragically, Juana's career was cut short when she passed away in a car accident in 2015. She was only 30 years old at the time of her death, but her legacy lives on through her recordings and the countless musicians she inspired. Juana Zayas will always be remembered as one of the greatest pianists of her generation, and her contributions to classical music will never be forgotten.

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