A Christian at Carnegie Hall

Once driven and 'difficult to love,' Leonardo Le San now loves to shares his musical gifts | Marvin Olasky

Caroline Santa

"Religious Views: Christian." An unusually bold declaration on Facebook from a musician playing Carnegie Hall in New York City, one of classical music's sacred spots.

It's the end of June, and Leonardo Le San—a 32-year-old pianist and composer who immigrated from Colombia 18 years ago—is preparing for his Carnegie debut. As a teenager he had thought about playing Carnegie, but "I never thought I'd have the chance."

His path to Carnegie was winding, geographically and spiritually. No one owned a piano in the tiny, mountainous town in Colombia where he spent his first 14 years. He had training as a tenor and a guitar player, but not until he came to the United States did he learn English and study piano, eventually becoming a music major at the University of Delaware.