Vito Cottone, 11, began curiously experimenting with piano keys at the age of four. By the time he was five, Vito began formal lessons, quickly developing advanced sight-reading skills and a passion for classical music. After his family moved to the Princeton area in 2021, he began studying at the Westminster Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of Phyllis Lehrer, who has nurtured significant growth in Vito as a young pianist. Over this time, Vito has received multiple awards of musical achievement. Vito was awarded first place in the 2025 Westminster Conservatory Concerto Competition. In 2023, he was honored as a recipient of the Westminster Conservatory Achievement Award for Piano, granting him a scholarship. In addition, he placed third in the 2022 Westminster Conservatory Concerto Competition. Furthermore, Vito received High Honors in the New Jersey Music Teachers Association (NJMTA) Piano Competition in 2025 and Honors in 2023 and 2024.
Watch Vito Cottone perform Piano Concerto No. 12 in A Major by W.A. Mozart on the piano for the 2025 World Music Competition as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.