Singing Style

About Bruce: As a prize-winner in scholastic (Dora Khyatt); Collegiate (Bi-Co Concerto Competition); national (Seattle International Virtuoso Artists Festival); and international (Quebec Music Competition; Canadian International; VI Odin) 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. In 2021, Bruce received 1st Prize in the Grand Metropolitan International Music Competition (Professional Division - Piano) - successfully winning his first-ever professional division as a soloist. 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); recognition via the World Piano Teacher's Association (IPC Finland - 2020); 2nd Prize in the Charleston International Music Competition (Classical Piano, 2022); and, 1st Prize in the 2022 International Golden Classical Music Awards competition. 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. Presently, he studies under Scott Cohen on a performance-based scholarship at the Cohen School of Music.

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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!

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"[In Seasonal Sonorities] Bruce demonstrates an impressive ability to interpret music from different eras, from romantic to impressionist, to 21st century." - David Carpenter, Composer (Navona Records)

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"Played with great care and sensitivity...Bruce Leto is an intelligent and highly-skilled musician." - Charles Abramovic, Department Chair Piano Studies (Temple University)

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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, and reviews from Fanfare Magazine (in addition to another Silver Medal at the Summer 2021 Global Music Awards, and Silver at the Spring 2022 World Classical Music Awards via Curt Cacioppo's Dans Le Parc)! Lastly, Singing Style received Finalist Recognition via the Intercontinental Music Awards (2022), and a rare 9/10 review rating by Tom Haugen of Take Effect on June 10th, 2021; and, was henceforth submitted to the Grammy's (First Round) by Albany Records!

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About Singing Style & Acknowledgement: Every piece of music has a story - whether tonally, modally, or motivically. "Singing Style" is an album as derived from compositional sensibilities as it is from the art of song. From Armed and Dangerous (inspired by the "L'homme Arme") to Chopin's 3rd Ballade (referencing bel canto opera), to Bluebird Sings Goodnight (a Zuni Lullaby) - "Singing Style" takes the listener through compositional passages, vocal/piano arrangements, and social justice calls to action.

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Special thanks to all donors/partners/dedicatees who have made this commercial release possible: Ricardo Tull, Jr; Dan Ciecka; Tom Quirk; Pam Goodman/Wally Orlov; Charles Bryant; Tony Brown; Catherine Radbill; Bruce Leto, Sr; Lou Petrone; Tyler Gaspich; Matthew Gabalawi; Jacob Flaschen; Isaac Lippert; Patti Gedrich; Mark DeMasi; Matthew McCloskey; Adrian Howard; Erik Scattereggia; and, Robert Solomon.