Multifaceted Classical Pianist

I wear formal attire, sometimes with some added color, and prefer to play on an acoustic piano. I can bring my own full size Yamaha keyboard if necessary. I greet all guests with a warm smile, good humor and positive attitude. I am always open to additional repertoire requests from the guests during the event.

Francisco “Kiko” Torres Velasco is a Los Angeles-based classical pianist, collaborative artist, and music teacher currently completing his Doctoral of Musical degree from the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music. Kiko received his Bachelors of Music and Masters of Music degree from USC Thornton, and currently holds a Graduate Assistantship in his Doctoral program. Although classically trained from the age of 7, Kiko was immersed in Mexican folk music and Afro-Latin Jazz as a child. He grew up among the natural beauty of Santa Cruz and Placerville, CA, and draws inspiration from his love of the coast and the mountains. As an adolescent, Kiko won many regional and state competitions in California, and in 2022, Kiko received first place in Division IV of the Los Angeles Liszt International Competition. He has performed solo piano concerts in Los Angeles, the Bay Area, and in the Gold Country region, and as both a solo and collaborative artist, Kiko performed in the Santa Cruz Chamber Players concert series, the USC Thornton Edge concert series, with the Helix Collective, and in the Placerville Shakespeare Music festival. Kiko has organized and performed in outdoor concerts to raise climate change awareness, recorded and performed flamenco and latin jazz music, played in theater productions, including several performances with The Merry Men improv theater troupe, and currently performs shows across Los Angeles in the post-rock band marguerite, playing both the synthesizer and piano.

If no acoustic piano is provided, I will need easy access to a power outlet as well as a piano bench. If there are specific repertoire requests that I do not have memorized, I may need a music stand and possibly the sheet music for the requested piece of music.