Leyla Kabuli is a student at the University of California, Berkeley, majoring in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences as a Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholar. She currently studies piano with Professor Yoshikazu Nagai of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and is the pianist of the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra. Her recognitions include 2016 and 2017 National YoungArts Honorable Mention Awards, and the US Chopin Foundation scholarship. She won first prizes in the Los Angeles Young Musician, eMuse, American Protégé, and Wildflower Music Showcase International Competitions, the second prize in Enkor, third prize in Virginia Waring Concerto, and the best transcription and audience prizes in the Seattle International Piano Competition. She was also a semifinalist in prestigious international events, including the International Piano-e-Competition, Hilton Head International, Yamaha USASU International, and the First Arthur Rubinstein Youth International Piano Competition. Her regional and national first prizes include Pacific Musical Society, MTAC, CAPMT, Kruschke, Mindell, Ghiglieri, Classical Masters, East Bay, Berkeley Etude Club, US Open, Junior Bach, and MTNA Piano Duet competitions. She also received top awards from the American Prize in Solo Piano, Ross McKee, and Zeiter competitions.
Leyla had a featured performance on NPR’s From the Top in 2016, collaborated with the show on a benefit video, and was invited to perform at their 2017 Gala. She performed with Ensemble SF in two concerts, and was featured in San Francisco’s Noontime Concerts as the Helen von Ammon Emerging Artist Award recipient. She performed as a soloist with the Waring Festival Orchestra, Nova Vista Symphony, Palo Alto Philharmonic, Sonoma Philharmonic, El Camino Symphony, and the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra. She is an active chamber musician and collaborative pianist, and also plays the bassoon and violin. She enjoys sharing her music with retirement communities, and frequently participates in benefit concerts, outreach events, and various opportunities for taking music beyond the concert hall.
Leyla had a featured performance on NPR’s From the Top in 2016, collaborated with the show on a benefit video, and was invited to perform at their 2017 Gala. She performed with Ensemble SF in two concerts, and was featured in San Francisco’s Noontime Concerts as the Helen von Ammon Emerging Artist Award recipient. She performed as a soloist with the Waring Festival Orchestra, Nova Vista Symphony, Palo Alto Philharmonic, Sonoma Philharmonic, El Camino Symphony, and the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra. She is an active chamber musician and collaborative pianist, and also plays the bassoon and violin. She enjoys sharing her music with retirement communities, and frequently participates in benefit concerts, outreach events, and various opportunities for taking music beyond the concert hall.