Rafael Vélez is a concert pianist, educator and condcutor whose work is driven by a deep curiosity about music and its meaning.
A graduate of the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory and the Purcell School in London, Rafael has performed throughout Europe, Mexico, Australia and Russia. He enjoys creating programmes that juxtapose music from different periods, revealing unexpected connections across styles.
Rafael is currently completing his Soloist Diploma at the University of Music and Performing Arts Stuttgart under the guidance of composer and improviser Noam Sivan
In 2026, he founded the AETHERHIMA Orchestra in Stuttgart, bringing together students , graduates and young professional musicians from the region. Alongside his performing career, he is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of musicians, through personal mentoring and masterclasses, drawing on more than twenty years of international study and first-hand experience.
His recordings include F-Sharp Tonalities (RCD Label), followed by War and Peace, featuring works by Sergei Prokofiev and Robert Schumann. Future recording projects include Natur Mort, dedicated to Alexander Scriabin, Leoš Janáček and César Franck, a complete Johann Sebastian Bach album. From 2027 he will embark on a three year exploration cycle of Ludwig van Beethoven’s complete 32 Piano Sonatas.
Collabs
Every collaboration begins with a shared artistic vision. I enjoy collaborating on classical concerts, chamber projects, and multidisciplinary performances. I approach each project with professionalism and genuine curiosity so feel free to get in touch if you’d like to work together!
mentorship
Whether you're preparing for a conservatory audition, an important competition, or simply want to reach a higher artistic level, successful progress requires more than practicing harder. It requires clear direction, thoughtful guidance, and a mentor who understands both the artistic and psychological demands of performing.
Albums
F-SHARP ( 2024)
F-Sharp Major and F-Sharp Minor occupy a unique geographical and symbolic position emerging as a point of chromatic richness. These tonalities are not mere abstractions but reflections of life's dualities—pain and joy, despair and redemption. In this album, these tonalities guide listeners through a journey of human emotion and spiritual exploration.
BACH:Toccata and Fugue in F-Sharp Minor BWV 910
BEETHOVEN :Piano Sonata No 24 in F-Sharp Major Op. 78
SCHUMANN.Piano Sonata No1 in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 11
SCRIABIN: Piano Sonata No 4 in F-Sharp Major Op. 30
WAR AND PEACE (2025)
Composed in 1940 amidst the turmoil of World War II, Prokofiev's first "war sonata" is a gripping masterpiece that challenges both performer and listener alike with a relentless depiction of conflict and destruction throughout this 30-minute tour de force.
In stark contrast, Schumann’s "Humoreske," often regarded by the composer as his most melancholic work, offers a deeply personal exploration of emotion, unbound by traditional forms bringing to life the contrasting personas of Florestan and Eusebius from the composer.
Serguei Prokofiev : Sonata n6 in A major op. 82
Robert Schumann : Humoresque op 20 in B flat major
NATUR MORT ( RELEASE IN 2026)
Human life represents nature’s most intricate cycle, where the physiological and psychological realms intersect in a way unmatched by any other entity. The concept of Nature Morte, or still life in art, traditionally depicts inanimate objects—often ordinary subjects like food, flowers, or tableware. However, during the Middle Ages and particularly in the Dutch and Flemish Golden Age, these paintings took on profound allegorical meanings, often reflecting the spiritual realm.
This musical journey begins by delving into the fragility and mortality of our physical existence, explored through the works of Janáček and Liszt, portraying the inevitable decay and dissolution of the body. Scriabin’s "White Mass" Sonata serves as the pivotal transition, guiding the listener from the tangible and mortal to the ethereal and sacred. The later part of the journey, through the music of Bach and Franck, shifts the focus toward the transcendent, inviting contemplation of the spiritual beyond the physical.
Leos Janacek : Piano Sonata 1.X.1905
Franz Liszt :Funerailles
Aleksandr Scriabin : Piano Sonata n7 “White Mass” op 64
J.S Bach :Fantasie and Fuge in a minor BWV 904
Cesar Franck :Prelude Choral et fugue
Upcoming Concerts
News
Guest To Yucatan's Symphony oRCHESTRA
On Friday, November 14th and Sunday, November 16th I'm invited to play Tchaikovsky's First Piano Concerto with Yucatan's symphonic orchestra in the symbollic Amrando Manzanero's Theatre.
Join us for this exquisite, romantic, unforgettable experience.