Leo Brouwer

The Cuban composer, conductor, guitarist, and educator Leo Brouwer, enjoys the reputation of being one of the 20th century’s most important Latin American composers. His compositions range from works for most solo instruments, a variety of chamber music, orchestral works, and music for dozens of movies, including A Walk in the Clouds and Like Water for Chocolate. But it is on the guitar that Brouwer’s influence has proven to be most extraordinary.
In his work as a composer, Brouwer has proven himself to be a true craftsman, combining his absolute control of traditional forms and compositional techniques that range across virtually all periods of music history with the profound musical inheritance of his Afro-Cuban heritage. In so doing, he has created a personal style that is recognisable from the opening notes of any of his compositions.
In 1987 Brouwer was selected to be honourable member of UNESCO in recognition for his music career - an honour that he shares with Menuhin, Shankar, Karajan, Sutherland and other musical luminaries.