Masahiro Kawakami
Born in Hokkaido, Japan in 1965.
Masahiro Kawakami graduated from the Tokyo College of Music and completed his studies at the Vienna Conservatory, Austria.
He has made many recordings for NHK radio and television programs in Japan.
He has released 7 CDs. Among his recordings, Piano Sonata B-flat minor of Mily Balakirev, Sonata No.5 and Etudes Op.42 by Scriabin, 7 Piano Sonatas of Nikolai Medtner, and numerous piano solo works and chamber music works by Nikolai Kapustin.
One of his biggest achievements is the performance of Kapustin's 3rd Piano Concerto Op.48 as the World première in Tokyo, 2016, as well as the Première of the 6th Piano Concerto in 2013. He performed many more unknown works by Kapustin. Nikolai Kapustin dedicated the two compositions, op.137 and op.138 to him.
He not only gives solo recitals regularly at prestigious halls in Japan such as Suntory Hall, Tokyo Opera City Hall, Kioi Hall, but also gives numerous concerts including piano ensembles, chamber music, and performances with major orchestras in Japan and Europe.
He has edited more than 20 scholarly editions of piano works by Nikolai Medtner and Nikolai Kapustin for Zen-on(Japanese publishing Company), and he has been working for Schott Music since May 2017 as the most reliable proofreader for Kapustin’s music.
Besides his busy schedule on the concert stage, he devotes considerable time to teaching as an Associate Professor at the Tokyo College of Music.
He regularly serves as a jury member in many national and international competitions and gives masterclasses and lectures at colleges and universities across Japan. He has repeatedly invited as one of the faculty members of Music Fest Perugia, Italy, and Dryad Piano Academy in Hamamatsu, Japan.
In October 2017, he started a new CD recording project of Kapustin Complete Piano Works.