LEONARDO THE SPACE PIANIST

Dr Leonardo Barilaro, also known as the "Space Pianist", blends his passions for music and science.  
Leonardo has already sent his music to Space three times, where it premiered via streaming from the International Space Station.             
Leonardo is a polymath artist, his music can be described as "Contemporary Space Music", merging piano, synthesizers and bold experimentation.            
This artistic pursuit began early, discovering the piano at 6 and astronomy at 9. Inspired by figures like Isaac Asimov and diverse musical influences, like Bach and Queen, at the age of 12 he envisioned playing music in Space.    
This Dream led Leonardo on a unique journey. As a pianist he graduated from the Music Conservatory in Italy, studying composition and developing his passion for synths and electronic music. Mentored by Dream Theater's keyboardist, Jordan Rudess, in the meanwhile he pursued studies in Aerospace Engineering. As an aerospace engineer with a PhD from the University of Padua (Italy), Dr Barilaro conducts research on mitigating space debris risks and innovative techniques for hypervelocity impacts. 

His expertise extends to mechanical measurements for engineering, structures, fluid dynamics and aerospace systems, with over 30 academic publications and experience with multinational corporations.               
During these years, he performed at Sweden's ESRANGE Space Center while participating in the SCRAT Project, his first space mission. He has since recorded four studio albums, five EPs, and numerous singles, performing across Italy, Germany, the UK, France, UAE and beyond. Collaborations with world-class artists like Tina Guo, Steve Mazzaro, Yossi Sassi, Mariangela Demurtas and Marco Minnemann further enrich his musical horizons.

Currently based in Malta, Dr Barilaro is a Senior Lecturer in Aerospace Engineering at MCAST, developing research about space structures and materials subjected to high-energy impacts.             
His artistic side, in the meanwhile, continues to reach new levels. In 2022, he embarked on a special project, "Space Piano Music Everyday", releasing a daily new track with a video clip on Spotify and other platforms, establishing a new world record. 2023 saw the publication of his book, "Music from Space", and his appointment as brand ambassador for Zanta Pianoforti luxury pianos.

Dr Barilaro's most recent venture is the ASTROBEAT project. This mission tested an innovative cold-welding adhesion technique for spacecraft repair and also incorporates a unique "Space Art" component. New compositions were created in collaboration with Grammy-nominated cellist Tina Guo and producer Steve Mazzaro, both part of Hans Zimmer’s team, to be onboard the International Space Station and premiered in a broadcast to Earth.

Leonardo’s vision aims to inspire audiences, transcend cultural barriers and connect people to the wonders of Space. His ultimate goal? To become the first pianist to perform a concert from Mars to be streamed to Earth.