Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, pianist Rafael Cortés-Colon is a graduate of the Peabody Conservatory of Music where he received both Bachelor and Master of Music Degrees while studying with Lillian Freundlich. Mr. Cortés is a Fulbright Scholar to West Germany where he pursued post-graduate studies at the Musikhochschule in Lübeck and has concertized extensively in Germany, Central and South America, Puerto Rico and New York. He has appeared as soloist with the Hunter Symphony Orchestra, the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra in San Juan and as duo pianist with Robert Miller in performances with the Montclair Chamber Ensemble and with members of the New York Philharmonic. He also performs frequently at the Turtle Bay Music School where he is Chairman of the Piano Department and received their Award for Outstanding Achievement. He has also received the Premio de Música award from the Instituto de Puerto Rico of New York, the Galardon APE Award for Civic Achievement from the Puerto Rican Association of Writers of NYAPE. Mr. Cortés gives master classes in New York and Puerto Rico and serves as juror for many piano competitions in the New York and New Jersey area.