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Thu 15 May, 2025
Tania León became the LPO's Composer-in-Residence for two seasons from September 2023.
From arriving in the US from Cuba in 1967 speaking barely any English, to winning a Trustees Award at the 67th Grammy Awards in February 2025, Tania León has had an expansive, wide-ranging and hugely successful musical career.
Recognised for her virtuosic piano playing at a young age, Tania began her journey to stardom in 1968, when she filled in for her pianist friend at a ballet class in Harlem. There she impressed ballet dancer and choreographer Arthur Mitchell – the first soloist of colour with the New York City Ballet – and soon became resident composer and music director of Mitchell’s newly formed Dance Theatre of Harlem.
And the rest is history! We sat down with Tania to relive some of her favourite musical memories, from where it all began, to what she loves most about hearing her works played by the London Philharmonic Orchestra today.
Stay tuned for new music releasing on the LPO Label featuring Tania on Friday 4 July. You won’t want to miss it ✨