The COSTA RICA PIANO FESTIVAL is one of the most important cultural initiatives of recent years in Costa Rica, focusing on the artistic development of young local and international pianists.
We offer a space of personal and professional growth to young pianists as well as musical performances of the highest level for the Costa Rican audiences.
In our programs, pianists of all ages and levels have the opportunity to take private and group lessons, participate in workshops and seminars, perform in some of the country’s most iconic venues, and compete in an international competition. Beyond the stage, they share experiences with like-minded colleagues from around the world, forming lasting friendships and valuable professional connections. They also have the chance to explore some of the natural wonders of Costa Rica, one of the greenest and happiest countries in the world.
To foster the talent of future generations by providing young pianists and emerging artists with an international platform for personal and professional development through artistic and educational opportunities that foster the highest standards of excellence. At the same time, we offer our local and international audiences the opportunity to experience world-class concerts and enrich their musical appreciation, contributing to the strengthening of culture, education, and the enjoyment of music as a truly transformative experience..
TEAM
LANZO LUCONI
FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Born and raised in San Jose, Costa Rica, Lanzo Luconi has been the recipient of multiple scholarships, competition prizes, and festival awards around the world. He has performed in prestigious concert halls of Costa Rica, Europe, and the United States, where he made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2008 and was honored with the International Outstanding Professional Artistic Performance Award.
He has been invited to perform in many notable events including the Scarlatti World Marathon, the Kosciuszko Foundation Winner’s Recital, and the 6th Musical Composition Seminar, where he performed music by Costa Rican composers. Other engagements include performances at MusicFest Perugia in Italy and with the World Youth Symphony Orchestra.
Lanzo belongs to one of the earliest generations of concert pianists from the Instituto Superior de Artes, the premier pre-college arts academy of Costa Rica. His formal music studies began under the guidance of Dr. Alexandr Sklioutivsky, Dra. Tamara Sklioutovskaia, M.M Ludmila Melzer, and Dr. Luis Monge. After completing his undergraduate studies at the National University of Costa Rica, Lanzo moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he obtained his master’s degree at Carnegie Mellon University under the guidance of the renowned pianist and professor Enrique Graf.
Mr. Luconi is a devoted educator, continuously making extraordinary efforts to provide top quality educational opportunities, proving the undeniable positive impact in our society. He believes that the talent and passionate dedication of young musicians must be celebrated and shared with audiences worldwide. His students have won numerous national and international competitions, scholarships, college auditions, festivals and special performances.
Beyond the stage and teaching studios, Luconi has a great passion for learning and developing new projects, continuously pursuing studies in the fields of psychology, pedagogy, communication, business, and entrepreneurship.
In 2014, Lanzo founded the Costa Rica Piano Festival, which is the first of its kind in Central America, created to provide international musicians with the best learning opportunities through lessons with world renowned artists, competition, solo and orchestra performances, and valuable seminars, while enhancing Costa Rica’s growing music culture. This successful initiative led him to create other successful international projects such as the Costa Rica Chamber Music Festival, Music Entrepreneurship Seminars and consult as a business and cultural advisor for several companies, music studios and independent events.
He has taught masterclasses and participated as a speaker in numerous events from prestigious institutions like MTAC, HSPVA Houston, Booker T. School for the Performing Arts in Dallas, Lone Star College Montgomery, University of North Texas and the Music Entrepreneur Conference at Harvard University. He is also a frequent guest in the world famous podcast The Authenticity Show.
Lanzo is a faculty member at the Opus119 Conservatory of Music and teaches privately in his home studio.
LUIS MONGE
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Luis Monge is a Costa Rican pianist and composer with academic studies in Mexico, Costa Rica, Germany, and New York. Among his tutors are Karl-Heinz Diehl, Wilhelm Killmayer, Ludwig Hoffmann (Superior School of Music-Munich) and Gyorgy Sandor (Julliard School-NY). His early sensitivity and affinity for diverse Latin American music styles and jazz allowed him to develop, not only improvisation, but also arrangement and composition skills.
He has taught at universities in Germany, New Jersey, the United States, Costa Rica, and given master classes at universities in Guatemala, Mexico and Vilnius/Lithuania. Currently, Mr. Monge teaches piano and improvisation at the National University of Costa Rica and the Higher Institute of Arts. He is an active soloist, accompanist, and composer, as well.
His career includes solo concerts and recordings with classical music and chamber music collaborations with recognized artists of modern Latin American music and Latin jazz. As a co- founder of the modern music and jazz quartet Swing en 4, he has recorded four CDs and has toured South America, Cuba, Canada, and Europe. He has been continuously researching on African roots in the music cultures of the Americas, and obtained his Music Ph.D. in 2015 from the National University of Costa Rica. He was also the president of the Association of Composers and Authors of Costa Rica (ACAM) from 2009 to 2017 and is co-founder and board member of the Latin American Composers Alliance (ALCAM). His compositions have received awards in Costa Rica and Belgium. He has ongoing audio productions with a variety of his piano solo compositions and other orchestral works.
PAMELA BEINE
Production Manager
Since she started her path through music, Pamela has been recognized by her detail, her musical sensitivity and her way of communicating through music. Born in 1998, Pamela Beine is an belgian-costarrican international classical pianist and music teacher. She started her music lessons at the age of 5 under the Yamaha method. Later on, she coursed the Preuniversity Program from the National University of Costa Rica, under Dr. Alexandr Sklioutovski's direction and his team.
She coursed her carrier studies at the Conservatori Liceu in Barcelona, with Stanislav Pochekin. She graduated top of her class and obtained an excellence scholarship to study a Master Degree also at the Conservatori Liceu. Recently, she graduated from her Master Degree at the Utrecht's Conservatorium in the Netherlands.
Pamela has played international concerts and won several competitions around the world. In Costa Rica, she has played at the Salón Dorado, Eugene O'Neil Theatre, Auditorio Nacional, as well as the Foyer and Main Hall of the National Theatre. Internationally, some of the venues Beine's played are the Weil Hall in Carnegie Hall, New York, Barclay Theatre in Los Angeles, Jardi dels Tarongers and Sala Parés in Barcelona. Also, the Lithuanian Academy of Music in Vilnius, Lithuania, JM Fentener van Vlissingenzaal and Tivoli Vredenburg in The Netherlands. She debuted with the Kostromá Symphonic Orchestra in Kostromá, Russia, conducted by Pavel Gershtein.
Pamela is active as a soloist and as a chamber music musician. She founded the Beine-Margalef piano duo, which has been active since 2019 playing in venues around Spain. Beine has collaborated and received guidance by great musicians internationally. She has worked with institutions such as Musical Innovators, Intel, Yamaha and Q Foundation. Actually, she has been named CREA Ambassador. Pamela stands out as a musician with her delicacy and musical conversation.
RANDALL GONZÁLEZ
Institutional Relations Manager
Costa Rican music educator and pianist, he completed his studies at the National University of Costa Rica. As an educator, he has taken part in seminars and both national and international festivals in Argentina, Guatemala, and El Salvador. As a pianist, he has performed in Costa Rica’s principal concert venues, including the National Theater, the National Auditorium, and the Aula Magna at the University of Costa Rica.
He was awarded the “Grand Prix” at the third edition of the international competition La Música del Siglo, held in Lithuania. In 2024, he premiered the Piano Concerto, Op. 606 by Mario Alfaguell with the M. K. Čiurlionis Conservatory Symphony Orchestra.
He has also served as an organizer of national and international festivals focused on music education, piano, and choral performance. In addition, he is a professor at the Municipal School of Music of Santo Domingo and has coordinated music projects aimed at fostering the holistic development of various communities in the country.
RIGOBERTO RAMÍREZ
Production - R y S Producciones
Rigo is an event producer with broad experience in communications, technical production, logistics, and artist management. He began his career at age 17 in radio and television as a presenter and announcer, and later expanded his practical training into areas such as camera operation, lighting, master control, and technical support, developing a well-rounded understanding of event production.
In 2005, he founded R&S Producciones y Eventos, a company through which he has built a solid career in technical and logistical production, event coordination, artist booking, management, and strategic consulting. His work has focused on providing comprehensive solutions for artists, institutions, and organizations, supporting projects from planning through execution.
Throughout his career, he has worked with clients such as Banco Nacional de Costa Rica, Kölbi, Cervecería de Costa Rica, Casa Presidencial, the United Nations, IOM, FAO, UNDP, and various municipalities across the country. In the artistic field, he has served as manager and production coordinator for the band Percance since 2011, while also collaborating with other national artists and ensembles.
He has also contributed to the production of concerts featuring internationally renowned artists including Paul McCartney, Roger Waters, Aerosmith, Juan Luis Guerra, Marc Anthony, Metallica, Sting, Karol G, Ed Sheeran, and Shakira. At the Costa Rica Piano Festival, he brings key expertise in production, logistics, and professional event execution.
PABLO BRENES
Graphic Design & Advertisement
Pablo Brenes, partner and founder of ChepeStudio, a company of graphic design and advertising focused on provinding services in areas of sports, health and culture nationwide.
Throughout his career he has had the privilege of working for large nationally renowned brands in diverse industries such as automotive, healthcare, customer service and home appliances.
Entrepreneurial by nature and explorer of new horizons, Pablo plunges with great experience in the conceptualization and development of advertising campaigns within your company.
For more information at:
EMILIA MORA
Communication & Public Relations
Emilia is a nationally renowned communication professional with an emphasis on journalism, with extensive experience in developing and coordinating editorial and corporate communication projects. A specialist in writing, editing, and press management, she possesses skills in leadership, strategic planning, and team management. Her track record includes the conceptualization and execution of both editorial and commercial products, as well as the optimization of processes to ensure effective results.
Emilia has worked at renowned institutions such as Grupo Nación and Méndez Garita y Asociados, leading projects in media, public relations management, and organizational communication consultancy. Additionally, she has developed strategies for entities like the Costa Rican Banking Association, the Costa Rican Association of Pension Operators, and various foundations including Arias para la Paz. Her approach is centered on innovation, continuous improvement, and the implementation of impactful communication strategies.
GINO LUCONI
Marketing Director
Gino is a Creative Director and copywriter with experience in developing advertising campaigns, creative concepts, and content strategies for brands across different industries.
Throughout his career, he has worked on the conceptualization and development of integrated campaigns, digital content, and brand storytelling, leading creative, strategic, and production teams to bring ideas from concept to execution.
His approach combines creative thinking with a strategic perspective on how brands can connect with people through ideas that are relevant, culturally resonant, and memorable.
In addition to his work in advertising, he also works as a commercial voice-over artist, bringing an added perspective to the development of audiovisual pieces and branded content.
SOFÍA PÁEZ
Social Media & Community Manager
Sofi Paez is a pianist and singer-songwriter from San José, Costa Rica. After graduating in piano performance from the National University of Costa Rica, she also studied graphic design, an experience that continues to shape her artistic perspective and visual sensibility.
She later began composing her own pieces, primarily for piano. Her solo project grew out of a desire to explore new sounds inspired by the natural landscapes that surround her. In May 2024, she released her debut album "Silent Stories" with the Icelandic label OPIA Community, which won Best Single and Best Album in the Modern Classical category at the ACAM Awards.
Sofi has performed across Europe, North America, and Asia in renowned concert halls such as Tivoli Vredenburg, the Berliner Philharmonie, and the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg. Now based in Berlin, she continues to develop her sound while preparing to release new music.
COSTA RICA QUEST
Logistics and Operations
Costa Rica Quest possess vast experience managing international groups that extends from cultural and academic programs to sports and fitness events. They are in charge of logistics and operations, making sure accommodations, meals, transportation, and all other aspects of the festival run smoothly and timely.
For more information about sports and cultural programs please visit:
AL FOCO FILMS
Audivisual Production
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