Today we’d like to introduce you to Lanzo Luconi.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was born and raised in San José Costa Rica. I grew up quite involved in competitive sports as a child and initially didn’t seem to show much interest in music or other significant artistic pursuits. I didn’t begin seriously delving into the fascinating world of music until my mom “strongly suggested” that I take piano lessons from a remarkable Russian instructor who had just moved to Costa Rica a few years back. I skeptically accepted my mom’s suggestion, and my artistic adventure began at that point. It took some time for me to adapt to this high-intensity system, especially because I started at an age that is considered very late for a musical career (15 years old). But with time and patience, his guidance and loving but severe methods of study, discipline, mindset, and performance allowed me to confidently throw myself into it wholeheartedly. He showed me a musical route that was inconceivable to me at the time, and when I realized the unlimited possibilities, I really fell in love with music.
That first phase of my journey opened a multitude of new and exciting opportunities that would change my life forever.
He was (and continues to be!) a true inspiration to me and my entire family.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I don’t think anything that you consider important and worth dedicating your entire life to is ever easy or smooth. Part of the growth in the process consists of building character and experience through the hurdles, heartbreaks, and disappointments, as well as victories, achievements, friendships, and happy moments. My initial career advancements allowed to continue my studies outside of Costa Rica, and after considering a few countries, I chose to start my next chapter in the United States.
Things get a little more challenging as an immigrant – lots of visas, fees, paperwork, interviews, bureaucracy, expenses, etc., on top of academic and performance preparations you are responsible for, now at an even higher level.
When I first moved to the US and saw the level of my peers from different countries, I knew I still had a lot of work to do. That was one of the biggest challenges at first: to survive! But I knew that if I could face those fears and succeed, there would be a meaningful place for me in this industry.
I do have to acknowledge that a huge part of this seemingly fearless attitude was the unconditional love and support that I had from my close friends and family.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Costa Rica Piano Festival?
I like to diversify my skills and do many different things in the music space. I am really in the business of bringing people together to share their love for music, learning, friendship, and artistic expression. One of the most significant projects I have developed in my career is the Costa Rica Piano Festival We didn’t have many opportunities to pursue a piano career in my home country, so I made the decision to change that by creating a place/platform where young pianists could study with world-class musicians, network with other young musicians from around the world, and share a cultural experience in this beautiful country. That’s how the Costa Rica Piano Festival started in 2014, and since then, we have had pianists from over 25 countries, performed in over 10 concert venues in San José and nearby cities, and had almost 10,000 people attend our concerts.
Our academic program includes private lessons with highly renowned international artists, public master classes, both concerto and solo competitions, performances, pedagogy seminars, workshops, and public performances. In addition to this top-quality academic experience, our participants also have the unique opportunity to explore some of the natural wonders of this beautiful country in field trips that include volcano hikes, coffee tours, zip lining thorough the jungle, city tours, and relaxing at the beach.
Once I made this project happen, I understood that gathering individuals to do what they love and share it with an appreciative audience was always a good business.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Relentless perseverance not only to keep trying when you fall but most importantly making yourself better consistently is one of the most important elements to become successful at anything.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.costaricapianofestival.com
- Instagram: costaricapiano
- Facebook: costaricapiano
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/@costaricapiano
- Other: www.lanzoluconi.com
Image Credits
Costa Rica Piano Festival
Pablo Brenes Photography
Lanzo Luconi
