Leo Brouwer

Leo Brouwer (b.1939) is a Cuban composer, guitarist, and conductor. A student of Isaac Nicola, Vincent Persichetti, and Stefan Wolpe, he first gained recognition as a guitarist before turning primarily to composition. His works for solo guitar, including Canticum, La espiral eterna, El Decamerón Negro, and the Etudes Simples, are central to the modern repertoire. Brouwer has also written concertos, orchestral scores, chamber music, and more than a hundred film soundtracks. His style ranges from Cuban rhythmic idioms and avant-garde experimentation to later modal and tonal writing. He has conducted major orchestras worldwide and remains a leading figure in contemporary guitar music.