Luis Esteban Herrera Wattson

BIOGRAPHY

Costa Rican Pianist He was born on October 12, 1991 in San José, Costa Rica. He began his first music classes as a child at the age of 7 in Tilarán, Guanacaste. In 2005 he entered the Basic Stage Plan of the University of Costa Rica where he received piano classes with Lic. Rigoberto Tablada and later in 2007 with Lic. Higinio Fernández. In 2009 Luis Esteban moved to the city of Heredia to carry out his professional studies and entered the Intensive Pianistic Training Plan of the National University and the Higher Institute of Art where he received classes with professors Lic. Rosa Quesada and Dr. Gerardo Meza. Then in 2010 he was admitted to the Piano career at the National University under the tutelage of professors MM Ludmila Meltzer, Dr. Luis Monge, Dr. Gerardo Meza, and Dr. Alexandr Sklioutovski. In 2016 he graduated from the National University of Costa Rica with a Bachelor's degree in music with an emphasis in piano performance and teaching (SUMMA CUM LAUD Mention) and in 2018 he obtained his Master's degree with an emphasis in piano. Internationally, Luis Esteban has made presentations in France, Italy, the United States, Russia, Lithuania and Poland. It is also worth noting his presentations at the Weill Hall of Carnegie Hall in New York 5 times and his 1st Place in the American Fine Arts Festival (AFAF) Piano and Orchestra Competition where he performed Sergey Rachmaninov's Concerto No. 2 for piano and orchestra in Moscow. , Russia. In Costa Rica he has made presentations in the most important stages of the country such as the National Theater, Melico Salazar Popular Theater, Eugene O'Neill Theater, Museum of Contemporary Art, Clodomiro Picado Auditorium, Rafael Chavez Auditorium, Main Hall of the University of Costa Rica , among others. Luis Esteban has also made his debut as a soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra (OSN) and the Youth Symphony Orchestra (OSJ) of Costa Rica. He has been a piano professor in the Pre-University system of the National University, ACUA Academy, EMUSA Academy, National Institute of Music (INM), among others. Luis Esteban has participated in the production of 4 albums, 1 of them is his album of romantic music on piano arrangements of hits from the 70s and 80s entitled ¨Nuevo Amanecer¨ (Available on Spotify, Amazon, iTunes) He is currently a pianist at the Big Band from Costa Rica and founder of the group 4tísimo. He is also working on a project on orchestral music for films adapted for piano and other instruments (music by John Williams, Hans Zimmer, Klaus Badelt, Ennio Morricone, Danny Elfman, among others), as well as producing new works for piano and arrangements. or musical collaborations for other artists. COMPETITIONS 1st Place Bradshaw and Buono Competition (New York, USA) 1st Place Young Soloists Competition (San José, Costa Rica) 2nd Place American Protegé Romantic Music (New York, USA) 1st American Fine Arts Festival Piano and Orchestra Edition (Russia and USA) International Weill Hall of Carnegie Hall, New York USA (5 times) Riverside Theater California, USA Theater Saint Teodoro, Italy Polish Scientific Institute in Paris, France Piano Camp in Katowice, Poland Meritorious Moscow Symphony Orchestra, Moscow - Russia Music Festival Minnesota, USA

¨ I have known Luis Esteban Herrera since 2008, he was a pre-university student at the School of Music of the National University of Costa Rica, where he graduated as a Bachelor, Bachelor, and Master in piano.

Luis Esteban is a first class pianist, winner of multiple international competitions, he has played great programs both in Costa Rica and abroad: in France, Poland, Russia, USA, Italy among others.

He has also participated as a soloist with several symphony orchestras including: National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica, Moscow Symphony Orchestra, Russia. I believe that boy is pride not only for me but also for the country of Costa Rica and I am sure that in the future he will open new pages in the history of world pianism¨

dr. Alexander Sklioutovsky

Director of the Piano Chair of the National University and Higher Institute of Arts

“It really amazes me how Luis Esteban manages to translate what his inner ear asks him to do in music. That ability to "bypass" an instrument as complex as the piano to practically "talk" with the music that results from that process has always really surprised me. When it touches, it enters another connection state. It is really surprising.

Dr. A.S. Charlemagne Spider

Drummer, music producer, Director of the CCCN Jazz Orchestra

¨I met Luis Esteban around 2009, when he began his studies in the piano career offered by the School of Music of the National University of Costa Rica (UNA), in alliance with the Higher Institute of Arts. I have been his tutor, as part of the group of professors who direct this Piano Chair. I have also been his tutor in the development of knowledge and skills, related to improvisation, arrangement and composition. Later I was his teacher in postgraduate courses as part of the master's degree in piano that he also obtained at UNA.

Musical ability, talent, determination to achieve goals, and artistic spirit are qualities that have allowed Luis to open many doors, and little by little to consolidate himself as one of the most outstanding Costa Rican musicians of the new generations. His pianism is formidable, which, coupled with his creativity, has opened very important doors of international projection for him.

Apart from his brilliant artistic professional profile, Luis is a person of solid human values. I have no doubt that it will continue to contribute in a very significant way to the general musical and cultural development of Costa Rica towards the world¨