Hailing from the city of Chicago, Milton Rubén Laufer began playing the piano at three years of age. His formal training includes studies at the Music Institute of Chicago, the Gnessin Institute, the Eastman School of Music, the University of Michigan, and Rice University.
Laufer has graced some of the world’s most iconic venues including Lincoln Center in New York, the New World Center in Miami, and Tchaikovsky Hall in Moscow and has shared the stage with legendary artists like Natalie Cole, Chucho Valdés, and Guerassim Voronkov. His appearances on Spanish-speaking television and radio have transcended borders, captivating audiences throughout Europe, South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. A versatile artist, Laufer’s portfolio includes performing, arranging, production, and sound reconstruction credits across renowned labels including Naxos, Bis Records, Beauport Classical, and Zenph Sound Innovations. His competitive highlights include the silver medal at the 1987 Stravinsky Awards International Piano Competition and gold medal at the 45th Nena Wideman International Piano Competition.
The son of celebrated Puerto Rican Flamenco dancer, Carmen Alonzo, Laufer is internationally acclaimed as a leading interpreter and scholar of Spanish piano music. He is a lifetime member and founding trustee of the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame and an active voting member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (Grammy awards) and Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (Latin Grammy’s). His editions of Spanish masterpieces, 3 Improvisaciónes para Piano and La Vega by Isaac Albéniz are published by G. Henle Verlag of Munich.
In addition to making a commercial recording celebrating the centennial of George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue on the Parma Records label, Laufer traveled to France, Germany, Colombia, Korea, and select American cities including New York, Houston, and Syracuse celebrating this milestone.
A highly distinguished educator and administrator, Milton Laufer is Head of the School of Music at the College of Fine Arts at Carnegie Mellon University and formerly served as associate professor of music and Director of the Setnor School of Music at Syracuse University.