Luis Urbina

Join the Miami International Piano Festival for a lineup of exceptional musicians as part of the 2025 Discovery Series. On April 6, American/Venezuelan pianist Luis Urbina will perform at The Wolfsonian - FIU in Miami Beach. The program will feature Schumann’s Symphonic Etudes and Prokofiev’s Sonata No. 6, offering a compelling exploration of both classical and 20th-century piano works.

Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Luis Urbina began his musical studies at the age of nine, initially focusing on piano and later adding cello to his repertoire. Recognized as a prodigy during his developmental years, he studied under Dr. Paul Posnak from ages 13 to 17, achieving success in numerous local and state competitions. Urbina further honed his skills with Giselle Brodsky, the Artistic Director and Co-Founder of the Miami International Piano Festival, where he learned the Taubman approach and collaborated with esteemed artists such as Kemal Gekic, Misha Dacic and Jorge Luis Prats.

Urbina pursued his college studies at the University of Miami with Dr. Frank Cooper and later transferred to Florida International University (FIU), where he earned his undergraduate degree under the guidance of Kemal Gekic. During his time at FIU, he participated in various ensembles, both jazz and classical, and won the Concerto Competition performing Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 2 with the school orchestra. A significant highlight of his early career was performing with legendary violinist Ida Haendel in concerts in Manhattan and Santa Barbara between 2010 and 2012.

Since graduating from FIU, Urbina has collaborated with numerous musicians, particularly singers, and has been an integral part of the Miami International Piano Festival Academy. He has performed with artists such as Gilles Apap, Simone Porter, and Eglise Gutierrez. In March 2024, Urbina will pursue an Artist Diploma in Musical Arts in Madrid with Misha Dacic.