Emiko Imagawa

Emiko Imagawa, Piano

She graduated from Toho Girls High School Music Department. While studying at the Music Department of Toho Gakuen University, she also pursued studies at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna.

She won the highest prize at the Salerno International Competition, as well as the Capri International Competition. Additionally, she received the 3rd prize at the Stresa International Competition and the Enna International Competition.

Upon returning to Japan, she has been invited from Europe and the United States to perform. In Japan, she has given recitals and chamber music performances, collaborating with orchestras such as the Suk Chamber Orchestra, the Nordic Orchestra, the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra, Ensemble Kanazawa, Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra, Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra, Gunma Symphony Orchestra, Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra, New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra.

With the Royal Metropolitan Orchestra, she performed "Bach's Concerto for 2 Pianos" alongside maestro Jörg Demus, and she presented three piano concertos in one night at the "Emiko Imagawa Piano Concerto Evening". She has collaborated with many famous conductors such as Jean-Pierre Varèse, Naohiro Totsuka, Taijiro Iimori, Shunsaku Tsutsumi, the late Sakae Sakakibara, Kazuyoshi Akiyama, Tetsuji Honna, Christian Lindbergh, Norichika Iimori, Kazuhiro Koizumi, Toshiaki Umeda, Shigeo Genda, and others.

From 2006 to 2014, her series "Emiko Imagawa ~ Schubertiade", featuring a total of 12 performances of all Schubert piano sonatas, was well received. From 2015 to 2018, she held a series of concerts titled "Emiko Imagawa: Composers with a Connection to France". Since 2018, she has been active as a member of "Ix Ensemble". Her sophisticated Viennese classical pianism continues to captivate listeners, with her performances described as "dramatic and majestic" and surpassing common expectations of Japanese pianists.

Her CDs include Beethoven's piano sonatas "Pathétique," "Moonlight," and "Farewell," as well as her 1st album "Bee," released from Bellwood Records. Additionally, her 3rd album featuring an All Schubert Program was released in September 2014, followed by the 4th album "VARIATIONS" containing 7 variations in July 2017, and the 5th album of All Schubert Program in August 2021, released from ALM RECORDS, all of which have received high acclaim.

In addition to appearing frequently on TV and radio programs such as TV Asahi "New Titleless Concert", NHK-FM, NHK-BS "Pia Pia", etc., he has also appeared at the Roussel International Piano Competition (2008, Bulgaria) and the Yamaha Junior Piano Competition. she is active in many fields, such as serving as a judge at the Japan Classical Music Competition.

So far, she has studied piano with Kazuko Ariga, Classimira Jordan, Dianko Ilief, Heinz Medimorek, Roland Keller, the late Georg Vaschaheli, and Sergei Edelmann.

Currently, as a part-time lecturer at Musashino Academia Musicae, he is also focusing on teaching younger students.

photo credit

©Akira Mutoh