Abdiel Antonio Vázquez Fortozo

Renowned as one of the most promising Mexican talents, Abdiel made his Mexico City’s Bellas Artes Palace debut with the National Symphony Orchestra performing Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3, in the Final of the V National Piano Competition ‘Angelica Morales – Yamaha’, where he won the First Prize and Gold Medal.

Last year, former Mexican President Vicente Fox granted him the National Youth Award, one year after having received from hands of Nuevo Leon’s Governor the State Youth Award. Besides, he recently was distinguished with the Citizen’s Merit Medal, for his contribution to the community’s artistic and cultural growth.

Abdiel has performed all over his home country, with such orchestras as the National Symphony, Nuevo Leon’s Symphony, Tamaulipas Symphony, and the Youth Symphony of Nuevo Leon. He has also been soloist in three International Youth Symphonic Festivals in Monterrey, and next engagements include concerts with Mexico City’s Philharmonic, Queretaro’s Philharmonic, Carlos Chavez Symphony, Aguascalientes’ Symphony, Coahuila’s Camerata and the Sinaloa of the Arts Orchestra. His repertoire with these includes Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A minor, Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy and Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, among others.

Laureate of the XXI International ‘Claudio Arrau’ Piano Competition in Chile, Abdiel has also performed in recital in the USA, Argentina and Italy.

His love for opera has also taken part in his career, having collaborated with New York’s International Institute of Vocal Arts, a summer program with a faculty of singers and conductors from the Metropolitan Opera House and Milan’s Teatro alla Scala. He has also worked with Nuevo Leon’s Opera Company and the Sinaloa of the Arts Opera.

Starting his musical education at the age of 6 with professor Myrna Treviño, Abdiel won his first local piano competition when he was 13. He recently obtained his Bachelor’s Degree from the Escuela Superior de Música y Danza de Monterrey, where he was a pupil of Gerardo González, former alumnus of György Sandor.

Abdiel now pursues his Master’s Degree at Manhattan School of Music, under the guidance of renowned pianist James Tocco, a pupil of Magda Tagliaferro and Claudio Arrau.