Leonardo Gell Fernández-Cueto, a distinguished Cuban pianist, was born in 1986 in Havana. He began his musical training at the age of 9 at the Adolfo Guzmán Evening Conservatory. In 2001, he completed his elementary studies at the Manuel Saumell Conservatory (660 F Street, Vedado, Plaza de la Revolución, Havana) as the top graduate. Later, in 2005, he graduated from the Amadeo Roldán Conservatory (1 Rastro Street, Old Havana, Havana) with a Gold Degree. At the latter institution, he was a student of Teresita Junco and Aldo López Gavilán, among others. He is currently completing his studies at the Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA) (1110 120 Street between 9th and 13th Streets, Cubanacán, Playa, Havana), where he is a student of Ulises Hernández, specializing in piano.

In 2001, he participated in the Ibero-American Piano Competition in Havana, where he won a prize. A year later, he competed in the Musicalia Piano Competition, where he won First Prize. That same year, he participated in the María Clara Cullell International Piano Competition held in Costa Rica, winning Third Prize.

In 2004, Leonardo Gell won First Prize in the Amadeo Roldán Piano Competition. The following year, he began his solo career at just 19 years old, giving numerous concerts not only in Cuba’s major venues and theaters, but also in countries such as Costa Rica, Argentina, Spain, and Korea.

In 2007, he performed as a duo with clarinetist Dianelys Castillo at the Musicalia Competition, where they won First Prize. Since then, he has joined the Trio Concertante, in which he serves as pianist and conductor, sharing the stage with Dianelys Castillo and violinist Fernando Muñoz.

With this group, he has won awards such as: First Prize at the Musicalia Chamber Music Competition (2008); First Prize at the UNEAC Chamber Music Competition (2008); Third Prize at the Ciutat de Vinarós International Chamber Music Competition in Spain (2008); and the Gold Prize at the April Spring International Festival in Korea in 2009.

Throughout his artistic career, Leonardo Gell has received master classes from Jorge Luis Prats, Jerome Lowenthal, Salomón Mikowsky, and Francesco Belli, among others. He has performed with various groups, including the Cuban National Symphony Orchestra, the Havana Chamber Orchestra, the Oriente Symphony Orchestra, and the Nuestro Tiempo Instrumental Ensemble.

He has performed on stage with prominent figures in Cuban music, such as Iván del Prado, Enrique Pérez Mesa, Leo Brower, Alfredo Diez Nieto, Guido López Gavilán, among others.

Numerous Cuban composers, such as Juan Piñera, Andy Rubal, Víctor García, Leo Brower, and Alfredo Diez Nieto, have written works for her to perform on the piano. She has left her mark as a pianist on recordings, such as the DVD Mozart in Havana, released on the Colibrí label and winner of the 2008 Cubadisco Grand Prize. We can also mention the CD Presagios, recorded in Costa Rica, and the CD Capricho Cubano, which showcases music by Alfredo Diez Nieto.

Two films feature this young pianist on their soundtracks: El Premio Flaco, with the Camerata Romeu, and Chamaco, both by director Juan Carlos Cremata.

Leonardo Gell has premiered works by composers such as Mozart, Zelenka, Marvin Camacho, and Andrés Posada, among others, in Cuba. He has also performed at numerous international musical events, including the Havana Contemporary Music Festival; the Latin American Music Festival in Mendoza; the Leo Brower Festival; the International April Spring Festival; Cuban Culture Week in Costa Rica; the Pianist Refresher Workshop; and the Palmares Piano Camp.

This talented Cuban musician belongs to the Catalog of the National Center for Concert Music and is also a member of the National Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC).