Francisco Montero
Francisco Montero has performed in some of the most important halls in the USA and internationally.
In the USA (Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center, Bruno Walter Auditorium at Lincoln Center, Festival Ubuntu organized by Carnegie Hall, Peter Jay Sharp Theater, Klavierhaus, Paul Hall, Morse Hall in New York, Borden Auditorium, NV Hall, Esber Recital Hall, Staller Center for the Arts, and the 4th Texas State International Piano Festival – playing as a part of Rising Star guest. Some of these concerts have been reviewed by The New York Times by great critics. In the United Kingdom (concerts at Dukes Hall, Purcell Room, and Constance Pilkington Hall in London which was broadcasted by BBC Radio 4); in Germany (Konzertsaal in The University of Music and Dance Cologne playing as part of EuroArts International Festival); Austria (Palais Auersperg, Schloss Halbturn in Vienna); Italy (Sala Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, Val Tidone Festival); and most of the cities in Spain (Centro Niemeyer, Teatro López de Ayala, Fundación Eutherpe, Sala Nicolás Salmerón, XXV Festival Ibérico). He has recently recorded at WQXR radio presented by David Dubal at The Greene Space for the new radio series “The Piano in Spain” and K-Radio AM 1660 performing pieces by Couperin and Scriabin.
Recently, Francisco Montero was awarded First Prize at the Windsor International Piano Competition in London, UK, and First Prize at the III Enkor International Piano Competition. Others competition awards include the Grand Prize at the New York Artists International Competition, making his debut at Carnegie Hall and Weill Recital Hall last year as part of the award; 1st Prize at the New York International Music Concours; 2nd Prize at the Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition; 1st Prize at the Esteban Sánchez International Competition; 1st Prize, in addition to the Special Prize for the best performance of Spanish music, at the 19th International Ciutat de Carlet Piano Competition; and 2nd Prize at the Pedro Bote International Competition for Young Artists.
Born in 1991, Francisco Montero studied in Seville under the tutelage of Ignacio Torner and Tatiana Postnikova. In 2009, he moved to Badajoz to study with one of the most prestigious pianists in Spain (Alexander Kandelaki, pupil of Heinrich Neuhaus). Francisco holds a Bachelor´s degree in Music from the Conservatorio Superior de Música “Bonifacio Gil,” Badajoz. From 2008 to 2012, he worked periodically with Christopher Elton, Head of Keyboard at the Royal Academy of Music in London.
Francisco Montero studied his Master of Music at the prestigious The Juilliard School in New York under the guidance of the renowned teacher Julian Martin, whose influence on him has been decisive. His studies were generously supported by the Celia and Joseph Ascher Piano Fund, Nina Carasso Scholarship, and Martin Canin Scholarship. He is currently pursuing his DMA in Piano Performance at Pennsylvania State University with Dr. Jose R. Mendez.
2016 Olga Kern International Piano Competition Semifinalists Honorable Mention Award-Winner.