About
🌸 Lilyan – Piano Composer & Storyteller of Silence
I’m Lilyan, a piano composer who listens deeply to silence and transforms it into music. My melodies drift between earth and sky, weaving the emotional depth of human experience with the ethereal beauty of introspective sound.
Lilyan’s Piano Stories is my personal garden of compositions — each piece born from meditation, memory, and spiritual vision. Within this space, you’ll find my artistic biography, answers to questions about how I found my way back to music, and reflections on the duality of my signature melodies: Red Rose and Lavender, two contrasting yet harmonious voices blooming in this sonic garden. I welcome you into a world where music becomes a gentle guide for healing, dreaming, and rediscovery.
about me
Lilyan Leyva is a piano composer who weaves a tapestry of classical finesse, modern sensibility, and minimalist clarity. Her music is deeply introspective, crafting evocative melodies that speak from the silence. A lifelong passion, ignited by childhood piano lessons, blossomed into a remarkable artistic journey. Influenced by musical icons like Paul de Senneville and Olivier Toussaint, classical maestros such as Chopin, Beethoven, Bach, Rachmaninoff, and Satie, as well as cinematic and fusion legends like John Barry and Yanni, Lilyan finds herself enveloped by creativity in a mystical state of flow. This sacred bond with her innermost self allows her to compose and perform melodies that resonate uniquely with her spirit. As she describes them: Silent Melodies.
After a period of reflection, music called to her once more. The result: a suite of compositions titled Lilyan’s Piano Stories, reflecting the unvoiced emotions she longed to express. These works form the soul of The Rose Collection — Volume I, where each melody blooms with emotional color, bridging passion and serenity. The launch marks a new chapter in her journey — a celebration of her renewed love affair with music, her truest passion.
Every piece is entirely composed, performed, recorded, and produced by Lilyan, ensuring that each moment reflects her singular artistic vision. Her desire is to connect with a global audience and offer music as emotional refuge and inspiration.
My Musical Childhood
Did you take piano lessons at an early age?
LILYAN: I embarked on my piano journey at the tender age of 7, guided by my first book, “Teaching Little Fingers to Play,” which I still cherish. My musical education blossomed through private lessons, school classes, and continuous learning into adulthood. During those formative years, an old acoustic piano graced our home—a piano that wasn’t officially ours but became my faithful companion. It was on this instrument that I learned to translate raw emotion into music. Now, as a self-taught musician, I continue to explore the depths of expression through my compositions.
How did your passion for music develop?
LILYAN: My passion for music blossomed in the schoolyard and the quiet corners where melodies lingered in the air. I was drawn to the piano, where I found joy in playing songs by ear, especially those I held close to my heart. One piece that left an indelible mark on me was “Nostalgy” by Paul de Senneville and Olivier Toussaint, interpreted by Richard Clayderman. Its enchanting melody spoke of longing and remembrance, weaving a spell of sweet melancholy that resonated with my own sensibilities. Over time, this piece became more than just a composition to me—it became a companion in my musical journey, a source of inspiration, and a touchstone for my creative expression.
When the Music Faded
Why did you step away from the piano if you enjoyed it so much?
LILYAN: Back then, I often heard that music wasn’t a viable career, just a hobby. Over time, those voices shaped my decisions, and I began to drift away from the piano. The vibrant colors and the sounds that once filled my life gradually dimmed, until they faded completely. Life became more gray, more aligned with what society or others seemed to expect of me: to fit into a mold, to follow a predetermined path. I studied business administration, later pursued an MBA, and with each step, I moved further away from music. Being prone to migraines, often triggered by sound, may have been a contributing factor, but truthfully, it was the societal message that what I loved wasn’t “useful” or “practical” that truly drove me away. I thought I had left the piano behind forever. I convinced myself that it was over, that music had no place in my life anymore. But music never gave up on me. It found its way back into my life, as if it had been waiting patiently for the right moment to return. Looking back now, I can’t explain how I let the piano slip away for so many years—but I’m grateful that the music called me back when it did.
The Unexpected Return
How and when did you start composing music, and what inspired you?
LILYAN: Many years had passed since my fingers last danced across the piano keys. The loss of my cherished Pekingese dog created an emptiness that led me to seek solace in meditation. It was during these moments of deep reflection that I didn’t just imagine, but vividly saw with closed eyes, a breathtaking lavender sky. This wasn’t mere imagination; it was as if my inner sight unveiled a vortex of this mesmerizing hue. This profound visual experience, seen in the quiet darkness, rekindled my passion for the piano. One day, I found myself seated before the ivory keys, playing as if woven into the fabric of time. It wasn’t long before this reconnection with my inner world began to manifest in the form of music composition, a journey that continues to unfold to this day.
Is that why you feel music chose you?
LILYAN: Indeed, I believe music found me. Despite abandoning the piano, I often dreamt of pianos with silent, broken keys—a recurring nightmare. Since returning to music, those dreams have ceased. As a child, I wanted to venture into composition, but I didn’t start composing until this period in my maturity. I leaned more toward playing melodies by ear, savoring the ones that resonated with me. Now, I can’t envision a life without music, even as I recognize there’s still much to learn.
Composition Process: Silent Melodies
What time of the day do you find best for engaging with music?
LILYAN: I am drawn to music at any time, but the night holds a special magic for me. There’s a quiet intimacy that the darkness brings, wrapping everything in a veil of stillness. Playing the piano at night feels liberating; it becomes a moment beyond time, where past, present, and future converge into a seamless, universal resonance. The act of playing fills me with immense joy, connecting me not only to the music but to a profound sense of wholeness and freedom.
Could you describe your music composition process?
LILYAN: My creative process revolves around what I call Silent Melodies—these are melodies that seem to emerge from a place beyond this world, or perhaps from a deep part of my inner self. They appear unexpectedly, often when I least expect it, as if waiting for the right moment to reveal themselves. When they come, the music lingers in my mind, persistent, until I fully capture it on the piano. It’s an intuitive and almost magical experience, where the music guides me, flowing naturally without conscious effort. Each time feels like stepping into a unique and indescribable connection with sound.
Is it true that you can see the colors of music?
LILYAN: Yes. When a melody is truly new and about to be born, I experience something extraordinary. Several soft, glowing flashes appear physically, just above the keys—in the exact space where the sheet music lies, right in front of my eyes. It’s brief, like a window opening to a sliver of sky for a fraction of a second. The colors—lavender, indigo, rose, blue—manifest especially in the most melancholic passages, or when I press the keys with deeper emotion. I now know this is a form of synesthesia (likely chromesthesia), where sound and color blend into one moment. At first, it surprised me. But as I composed more melodies and this phenomenon continued to happen, I embraced it as part of my creative soul. Each color marks a musical birth, a moment of light revealing its emotion before fading. It’s how I know a piece is alive.
Style and Musical Genre
What are you musical influences?
LILYAN: Growing up, I was enchanted by classical music and revered composers like Chopin, Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, and Erik Satie. I also found a connection with the works of Paul de Senneville and Oliver Toussaint. Later, John Barry, Yanni, and now Ludovico Einaudi, Ennio Morricone, David Lanz, Hans Zimmer, Yiruma, Yann Tiersen and others have been significant inspirations.
What is your musical style or musical genre?
LILYAN: My heart belongs to classical piano music, film soundtracks, and the works of contemporary minimalist and new age composers. I have a special fondness for the violin and cello within these genres. My style could be described as contemporary piano with a minimalist touch, inherently romantic, evoking true feelings and deep emotions. It’s music that invites introspection and daydreaming, timeless and in harmony with nature, offering relaxation. Defining the essence of my music is a challenge, but I believe my melodies are evocative, carrying a nostalgic quality. They are stories born from silence, whispered from my inner world, becoming a bridge between the tangible and the ethereal, inviting listeners on a journey of introspection, healing and dreams.
What are your favorite songs in classical music and contemporary piano composers?
LILYAN: “Nostalgy”, the first melody I fell in love with (performed by Richard Clayderman), by Paul de Senneville and Oliver Toussaint and Oliver Toussaint’s “Ballade pour Adeline”. Among classical composers, Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” will always hold a special place in my heart. Chopin’s “Nocturne Op. 9 No.2” and “Nocturne in Bb Op.9 minor No. 1” are also favorites, along with Tommaso Albinoni’s “Adagio” in G minor, Bach’s “Air” on the G string (piano version), Satie’s “Gymnopédie No. 1-5”, Rachmaninoff’s “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini”, Handel/Halvorsen’s “Passacaglia”, and John Barry’s theme from the movie “Somewhere in Time”, among others. In the realm of contemporary piano music, I am moved by Ennio Morricone’s “Le Vent, Le Cri” and «Chi Mai», Ludovico Einaudi’s “Nuvole Bianche”, Yiruma’s “Kiss The Rain” and “River Flows in You”, Procol Harum’s “A Whiter Shade of Pale” (piano version), and David Lanz’s “Cristofori’s Dream”. Yanni’s “Reflections of Passion”, “Until The Last Moment”, and “One Man’s Dream” are also among my favorites.
The Idea of Lilyan's Piano Stories
How did the idea for Lilyan’s Piano Stories come about?
LILYAN: The inspiration behind ‘Lilyan’s Piano Stories,’ originates from my childhood memories of musical tales. In the book “Teaching Little Fingers to Play,” each piece of music has a story behind it, along with its corresponding illustration that vividly portrays the narrative. Similarly, every composition in my collection carries its own unique storyline, accompanied by illustrations that capture moments like “The Postman,” “The Rain,” and “A Message”—which were the stories I liked the most from my little book. These beautiful musical stories have left an indelible mark, shaping my compositions.
Why does ‘Lilyan’s Piano Stories’ feature both the red rose and the lavender as symbolic elements — and how do they express the soul of your music?
LILYAN: The red rose and the lavender are the emotional and spiritual pillars of my music. 🌹 The red rose, the signature symbol of Lilyan’s Piano Stories, embodies passion, love, and emotional intensity. It represents the tangible world of sound — the music that blooms from silence and reaches the listener’s heart. 💜 The lavender, born from a vision of a lavender sky during meditation, reflects introspection, inner peace, and celestial inspiration. It is the spiritual call — the origin of creativity, a quiet presence that guides each composition from within. Together, these flowers express the dual nature of my work: the red rose anchors the emotions of the earth, while the lavender expands toward the serenity of the sky. It is in this balance — between passion and peace, depth and lightness — that my music finds its voice. Through these symbols, I invite each listener to enter a garden where emotions blossom and silence sings. Every melody becomes a path between soul and spirit.
Silent Melodies: A journey of Healing and Inspiration
In the silence of loss, where the heart finds its echo, a pianist rediscovered the dance of fingers on ivory keys. The passing of a beloved Pekingese not only left a void but also opened a gateway to introspection. In the depths of meditation, a vision emerged—not just a figment of imagination, but a vivid, almost tangible experience of a lavender sky. This celestial vortex, with its mesmerizing hues, became a symbol of inner peace and a source of inspiration. As if guided by the unseen threads of time, the pianist returned to the instrument that once resonated with life’s symphony. Each note played was a step closer to healing, a melody woven into the fabric of the soul. This reconnection with the piano was not merely a return to a past passion but the beginning of a new journey in music composition. (This photo is the spiritual representation of my experience).
In the quietude of the world’s slumber, the pianist, Lilyan, finds her muse in the whispers of the night. These are the “Silent Melodies,” intimate compositions that emerge from the depths of solitude and introspection. They are not heard through the ears but felt within the heart, resonating with the unspoken narratives of the soul.
The Dual Nature of Emotion and Spirit
In Lilyan’s Piano Stories, the red rose and lavender bloom as symbolic pillars—each reflecting a complementary aspect of my musical soul. 🌹 The red rose, emblem of my piano universe, expresses passion, love, and emotional intensity. It represents the tangible thread between my inner world and the listener’s heart. These feelings live in my Red Rose Melodies, compositions that speak in vibrant whispers of joy, longing, and confession. 💜 The lavender, inspired by a vision beneath a lavender sky during meditation, embodies serenity, introspection, and a celestial calling. It reflects the quiet source from which my music emerges—the spiritual breath behind each piece. This spirit lives in my Lavender Melodies, ethereal compositions that guide the listener through silence, light, and reflection. Together, the rose and lavender encapsulate the duality at the heart of my music: between earth and sky, emotion and spirit, the heard and the felt.
Red Rose Melodies — The Pulse of Passion
🌹The red rose is a vibrant symbol of earthly emotion. Its crimson petals evoke the depth of human experiences: love, sorrow, courage, tenderness. In my Red Rose Melodies, these emotions unfold through rich harmonies and expressive dynamics that invite listeners to live each note fully—to feel seen, heard, and understood. This music is rooted in the physical, offering catharsis and connection. It mirrors the pulse of memory, the warmth of presence, and the raw truth of vulnerability.
Lavender Melodies — The Invitation to Introspection
💜The lavender rose opens the gateway to celestial peace. Inspired by silence and meditation, these melodies emerge with softness and spiritual clarity. Lavender Melodies hold space for stillness, for inward travel, for communion with the unseen. They invite listeners to pause, breathe, and transcend—their mystery like wind through trees, a quiet voice calling toward light. In these pieces, the listener does not simply hear: they float.
Closing Reflection
When united, these roses form a bridge between worlds—a harmony that reflects my deepest truth as a composer. Through this fusion, I offer not just music, but a journey into duality: between passion and peace, body and soul, silence and expression.
A Garden of Piano Stories
A Garden of Piano Stories In this universe, melodies are more than sound — they are memories unfolding, feelings rooted in silence. Through contemplative piano pieces born from emotion and spirit, I trace paths of tenderness and introspection.
The roses you find in this garden — red, lavender, pink — are not mere decorations, but reflections of my musical soul. Each bloom carries its own truth: passion, serenity, nostalgia. Each flower is a piano story, blooming note by note.
This garden is experiential. It breathes with the same intention as the music itself: to invite you inward, to walk slowly between emotion and stillness, and to listen to what grows quietly.
Thank you for walking among the petals — where music lives, and silence blossoms.
