Masahiro Kawakami

Masahiro Kawakami is a pianist of remarkable influence and distinction, known for his unique and diverse musical activities. Widely recognized as a leading pianist and scholar of the works of Nikolai Kapustin and Nikolai Medtner, he is active worldwide as both a performer and educator, participating in numerous music festivals and masterclasses. Notably, he was the teacher of Nobuyuki Tsujii, the winner of the 13th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, for 12 years. Kawakami has also made frequent appearances on various radio and television programs, including Japan's NHK.

Born in Hokkaido, Japan, Kawakami studied piano at Tokyo College of Music and continued his studies at the Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna (MUK) in Austria. Renowned for his ability to connect through music, he has served as a faculty member at prestigious institutions and festivals such as the Music Fest Perugia in Italy (since 2011), the VIP Academy in Vienna, and the Dryard Piano Academy in Hamamatsu, Japan.

Kawakami regularly performs recitals at prominent venues, including Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, Suntory Hall, Tokyo Opera City Hall, and Kioi Hall. His performances encompass a wide range of engagements, including piano ensembles, chamber music, and appearances as a soloist with orchestras. As an authority on Kapustin’s music, Kawakami gave the world premieres of Kapustin’s Piano Concerto No. 3 and No. 6 and the Japanese premieres of the Piano Concerto No. 4 and No. 5. Furthermore, Kawakami is the pianist to whom Kapustin dedicated two works for piano solo, Op. 137 and Op. 138.

In 2017, Kawakami launched an ambitious project to record the complete piano works of Nikolai Kapustin. To date, Kawakami has released eight CDs, featuring solo piano works, chamber music, and piano concertos. His discography also includes significant recordings of works by Balakirev, Scriabin, and Medtner.

Kawakami has also edited and published over 50 scores for piano and chamber music, primarily Kapustin’s works, through publishers such as Zen-On Music, Yamaha Music Media, and currently Schott Music. Alongside his active performance career, Kawakami dedicates a significant portion of his time to teaching at Tokyo College of Music.