Leo Gevisser, 17, began his piano studies at age 5 and moved to the U.S. from South Africa in 2017 to further his musical studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM) Young Artists Program, studying with Kathryn Brown and Daniel Shapiro.

Leo gave his concerto debut at age 11. Subsequently, he has been invited to perform with many of South Africa’s orchestras, such as the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO) and the Kwa-Zulu Natal Philharmonic Orchestra. He has been invited to perform with the CPO again in June 2020. Leo won first prize at the Baltimore International Piano Festival Competition, which includes a recital at Weill Recital Hall in Summer 2020. His chamber music group, the Arcus Trio, received the Junior Division Grand Prize at the 6th Coltman Chamber Music Competition, which included an invitation to perform at the 37th Annual Young Musicians Concert at Alice Tully Hall in Spring 2020.

Leo has received artistic guidance from esteemed teachers such as Gary Graffman, Menahem Pressler, Antonio Pompa-Baldi, James Giles, Julian Martin, Logan Skelton, and Paul Schenly. He has attended festivals/programs such as the Amalfi Arts and Music Festival, Gijon International Piano Festival, and, as a composer, the CIM Young Composers Program.