MEET THE ARTBURST WRITERS: FERNANDO LANDEROS

Fernando Landeros, a native of Tijuana, Mexico, started tickling the ivories when he was just a toddler. At four years old, his mother started him on piano lessons, thinking it would help him work his way through college. “Little did she know that I would do other odd jobs in order to get a piano education,” Landeros said.

In high school, he was the only musician at the Instituto Mexico, a Catholic school. Other students dabbled in music, forming bands on their own, but he was the only one taking proper lessons and applied for music school.

He completed his undergraduate degree in Piano Studies at Juilliard, followed by a Master’s Degree from the University Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. And three years ago, he came to Miami to complete his Doctorate in Musical Arts Collaborative Piano at the University of Miami School of Music. He recalls his time in Europe fondly, “it was a great experience.”

For Artburst, Landeros writes exclusively about classical music and opera, including articles on Florida Grand Opera, New World Symphony and performances at Arsht Center, as well as smaller events around town.

“I really like writing the local pieces about local artists trying to do their thing that aren’t as well known,” he says. “The hidden gems not everyone knows about.” He also values his work with Artburst and views it as a very important tool, especially with the slow demise of the printed paper.

“A Web presence like Artburst is vital. I think the content is excellent and the writers are superb. The set-up is fantastic. You reach a lot more people through a Website,” he says. Plus, since every writer has hundreds of friends, the outreach is that much wider he suggests.

“I feel very fortunate to part of an organization like this. It should be protected at all costs,” he says.

Click here to view a recent Florida Grand Opera review by Landeros.