Yuko Kawai

Yuko Kawai
Yuko Kawai plays Pleyel
Background information
Birth name	Yuko Kawai
Born	20 October (2017-10-20) Nagoya, Japan
Genres	Classical
Occupation(s)	Pianist
Instruments	Piano

Yuko Kawai (河合優子, Kawai Yūko^?, born in Nagoya, 20 October) is a Japanese classical pianist. She gave the world premiere of Chopin Piano Concertos in E minor Op.11 and F minor Op.21 in the version for one piano as published in the National Edition.

After graduating from Nagoya Municipal Kikuzato High School Music Department, she studied piano, organ, conducting and chamber music under prof. Atsuko Ohori, prof. Both Lehel and Yuzo Toyama at Aichi Prefectural University of Arts and Music. During her postgraduate studies in Aichi, her talent was spotted by prof. Jan Ekier, during his visit to Japan. They met in Nagoya and prof.Ekier invited her to Warsaw. She studied at Chopin Music Academy in Warsaw (Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw) and gained her diploma in 1994.

Prof.Jan Ekier (August 29, 1913 - August 15, 2014), pianist, composer and the 20th century's world's greatest Chopin scholar - visited Japan five times. His last visit was early in spring in 1990. From Hokkaido to Kyushu, "changing hotels 13 times, meeting very talented young pianists", he gave Chopin lectures and masterclasses all over Japan. In 1990 Kawai was studying at Aichi Prefectural University of Arts and Music and had his lesson in Nagoya. She played Chopin's Sonata in B minor Op.58. After the lesson prof.Ekier immediately told Kawai to come to Poland, to his class at Chopin Music Academy in Warsaw. During the Japan tour prof.Ekier had lessons with over 60 talented pianists, mainly Chopin Competition participants in October 1990, but only Kawai was invited as his pupil. At that time prof.Ekier told the masterclass interpreter about Kawai: "She has great potential. And she has very good hands as a pianist."

After receiving the 3rd prize at The International Chopin Piano Competition in Marienbad in July 1995, Kawai took part The 13th International Chopin Piano Competition in October 1995 in Warsaw. The Competition changed her life despite not receiving any prize. TVP, Polish Radio, "Wiadomości Kulturalne" magazine - the media gave Kawai a lot of attention. A Polish leading music critic Janusz Ekiert wrote about her in his article: "She can't go to the next round - this is the capital error." "She is the elite of the 13th Chopin Competition but can't perform at the Competition any longer. Experienced pianists who have performed worldwide, can't understand why."