About
Leah Gavilan is a pianist and writer from New Jersey. She studies piano with Yoheved Kaplinsky at Juilliard Pre-College and is a senior at Dwight-Englewood School.
A 2026 National YoungArts Winner in classical piano, she has performed as a soloist at Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall, and the Cathedral of Havana. She also conducts and plays the cello.
Her essays, poetry, and memoir have received a National Gold Medal and Gold Keys from the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. She is Editor-in-Chief of Spectrum and co-founder of In Her Words.
View résuméResearch
Performances
In recital and with orchestra.
Piano
Aldo López Gavilán
Frère Jacques Campanero
YoungArts video · Solo pianoMozart
Concerto with Arco Youth Orchestra
With orchestraConducting
Barber
Symphony No. 1, excerpt
Conducting · NYYSBrahms
Symphony No. 4, fourth movement, excerpt
Conducting · NYYSCommunity
Music, writing, and shared work.
In Her Words
Co-founder & President · 2024–present
Free creative-writing and journalism mentorship for girls, hosted at public libraries and online. The program reaches seven states and three countries, bringing young writers together to read, share their work, and find their voices.
Leah also started the In Her Words podcast, featuring conversations with women in journalism and writing.
Visit In Her Words
In Tune Contigo
Founder & Director · 2024–present
Connecting Cuban and American student musicians through cultural exchange. Virtual collaborations, artist interviews, school visits, and concerts create opportunities for young musicians to learn from one another.
Its Bridging Boundaries benefit concert with Equal Notes raised $700 for INTEMPO’s multicultural music education programs.
Visit In Tune ContigoOther involvement
Back To Bach
Regional Director · 2024–2025
School concerts and music education outreach through the Bergen County chapter.
DoReMi Project
Piano Tutor & Recruitment Director · 2025–
Teaching piano and recruiting volunteer musicians across New Jersey.
Ban Ki-moon Foundation
SDG Youth Advocate · 2024–2025
One of 17 inaugural youth advocates; raised $2,750 for grassroots SDG initiatives in Africa.
Résumé
Study, honors, and selected work.
Piano honors
- National YoungArts Winner, Classical Piano (2026)
- Alternate Winner, Juilliard Pre-College Piano Concerto Competition (2025)
- First Prize & Cash Prize, Senior Division, Ensemble 212 Concerto Competition
- First Prize, Best Mozart, Great Composers (2025)
- Second Prize, Charleston International
- Second Prize, International Grande (no first awarded)
- Finalist, Lancaster Symphony Concerto Competition
PDF · 6 pages
Gallery
On stage and behind the scenes.