Leo Brouwer is an internacional figure as composer, conductor, guitarist, researcher, pedagogue and cultural promoter. Juan Leovigildo Brouwer Mezquida was born in Havana, on March 1rst, 1939. Brouwer is among the most prominent musicians of the moment. Let us just mention his work as a national advisor of radio and television in Cuba in the 1960’s; in the direction and organization of the first departments of music in ICAIC (1960) and of Teatro Musical de La Habana (1962); in the renovation of the curricula for the subjects of harmony, counterpoint and composition in Cuban music schools; in the foundation and direction of “Grupo de Experimentación Sonora del ICAIC” (1968); as a jury in numerous national and international contests; in the conduction of more than hundred symphonic orchestras and chamber ensembles around the world; with more than three hundred records with his music and a catalogue of more than 285 works covering nearly all genres and musical forms; and in his work, s ince 1992 up to 2001 as main Director of the Orchestra of Cordoba, Spain. To this we may add his status as Honorific Member of prestigious institutions like UNESCO, SGAE, the Italian – Latin American Institute, and the Academy of Fine Arts of Granada, besides being guest composer of the Academy of Science and Arts of Berlin, and obtained the 1998 “Manuel de Falla Award” in Spain, the Doctor Honoris Causa Degree, the “Félix Varela Order” in the First Degree and the National Prize of Music in its first edition in 1999, the last two in Cuba; also the Grand Prix Cubadisco 2002, nominated as a finalist in the National Award of the Academy of Records in Spain 2003; the Prize at the MIDEM Classic Award in Cannes 2003, in the solo-orchestra category with his work “Concierto de Helsinki para guitarra y orquesta”; the Prize Cubadisco 2005 in the categories of Chamber Music and Best Recording with the CD “Homo Ludens”, and more than two hundred awards given abroad and in Cuba.
