PIANIST
COMPOSER
EDUCATOR
BIOGRAPHY
Leandro López Várady was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He graduated from the Catholic University of Argentina (UCA) in 1992 as Licentiate in Music, majoring in Composition with a Gold Medal and Awards.
He traveled Asia (Singapore-South Korea-China) from 1997 to 2000 with the Eldeé Young Quartet (former bassist of the Ramsey Lewis trio) and has lived in Chicago since 2000. López Várady worked in Saint Martin’s Episcopal Church as Music Director from 2001 to 2011. He currently teaches Piano and Latin Jazz Ensemble at Lewis University in Romeoville, IL.
Active in the Chicago music scene, he has performed at the Green Mill, Jazz Showcase, Andy’s Jazz Club among others as well as in several major performance halls: Symphony Center, Harris Theater at Millennium Park, Auditorium Theater at Roosevelt University and the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, IL among others.
López Várady has performed at festivals around the world, including the Chicago Jazz Festival; Taste of Chicago; South Shore Jazz Festival; Hyde Park Jazz Festival; Detroit Jazz Festival; Made in Chicago Festival in Poznan, Poland; Havana Jazz Festival in Havana, Cuba; Jazz y Pop Festival in Buenos Aires, Argentina and the 57th International Festival
in Ruse, Bulgaria.
Leandro received a Gold Record Award for his participation in Mietek Szcześniak’s “Nierówmi” album.
Currently, López Várady is the pianist for the Orbert Davis’ Chicago Jazz Philharmonic. He also is a member of Doug Lofstrom & New Quartet, Steve Hashimoto's "Sueños", Juli Wood's "Chicago Calling" and the Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre Music Ensemble.
Leandro lives with his wife Natalia and their daughter Helena Lucía in Oak Park, Illinois.