Born in Caracas, Gabriela Montero’s visionary interpretations and technically brilliant improvisational gifts have won her a quickly expanding audience and devoted following around the world.

Ms. Montero’s 2009-10 season included performances with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Kremerata Baltica, and the Seattle, Detroit and Cincinnati symphonies. In addition to her orchestral engagements, Ms. Montero gave recital performances with French cellist Gautier Capuçon in Italy, France and Germany. Ms. Montero finished the season with appearances at the Ravinia Festival, Tuscan Sun Festival, Verbier Festival and Bergen International Festival, among others.

In both recital and after performing a concerto, Ms. Montero often invites her audience to participate by asking for a melody for improvisations. They ask for themes from a Mozart symphony to Star Wars and at times, even the orchestra have a chance to suggest a theme if they so wish. “When improvising,” Ms. Montero says, “I connect to my audience in a completely unique way - and they connect with me.”