Ricardo Acosta

Ricardo Acosta, a pianist, conductor, and composer, has been lauded for his exceptional sensitivity, a unique musical voice, and his diversity. Born in Mexico and now residing in Bern, Switzerland, Acosta’s illustrious career is decorated with numerous national and international awards and scholarships. His collaborations span an impressive array of distinguished artists, including Patricia Kopatchinskaja, Steve Reich, Enno Poppe, and the soloists of the Yehudi Menuhin Academy.

Acosta’s diverse projects have taken him around the globe, performing in the USA, the Czech Republic, Thailand, Russia, France, and Switzerland. He excels both as a soloist and a chamber musician, having worked with esteemed orchestras such as the State Symphonic Orchestra of Moscow, the Bern Sinfonietta, the Proton Ensemble, Musica Nova, and the Eastman Philharmonia. His repertoire includes collaborations with renowned conductors like Brad Lubman, Neil Varon, Dmitri Orlov, and Patrick Jüdt.

A perpetual innovator, Acosta is dedicated to revitalizing historical practices while exploring new musical frontiers. His programs often feature his own improvisations and cadenzas in performances of concertos by Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven. He curates eclectic concerts that blend forgotten works by past masters with contemporary compositions by Latin American, European, and American composers, creating vibrant and engaging experiences for his audiences.

In 2016, Acosta completed his majors in Piano and Composition at the prestigious Eastman School of Music, studying under the acclaimed pedagogue and Van Cliburn Competition winner Barry Snyder, as well as composers Ricardo Zohn-Muldoon and Carlos Sanchez-Gutierrez. That same year, he was awarded the Swiss Excellence in Arts Scholarship to pursue a Master’s degree at the University of the Arts in Bern, studying piano under Professor Tomasz Herbut and orchestral conducting with Florian Ziemen.

Since 2020, Acosta has been a piano instructor at the Musik Konservatorium Bern and serves as the correpetitor for Mr. Ziemen’s orchestral conducting class. He is also the conductor and musical director of the Workshopera Bern, continually contributing to the vibrant musical landscape in Switzerland, Mexico, and beyond.