Mitsutaka Shiraishi, Piano
After attending the high school attached to Tokyo University of the Arts, he completed both his undergraduate and graduate studies at Tokyo University of the Arts. In 1989, he pursued further education at the Juilliard School of Music. Notably, in 1990, he won the Gina Bachauer International Scholarship Competition. The following year, in 1991, he claimed victory in the on-campus concerto competition and had the honor of performing with the Juilliard Orchestra at Lincoln Center. He returned to Japan in 1992.
In 1994, at the 63rd Music Competition of Japan, he was awarded the Kinoshita Award (shared), which recognizes outstanding performances of Japanese songs. His solo, chamber music, and concerto performances are renowned for their exceptional musicality, earning trust from both domestic and international collaborators. Noteworthy is his vibrant, rhythmically compelling interpretations and meticulously crafted, beautiful sound, which transport listeners into a unique universe. Furthermore, his extensive repertoire showcases his talent across various genres, including Japanese and contemporary works. He has made numerous appearances on NHK-BS, NHK-FM, and other platforms.
In addition to his performance career, he actively engages in educational initiatives for children through activities such as the Public Hall Music Revitalization Project of the General Incorporated Foundation. He also serves as a judge for junior competitions and various competitions, and is a registered artist for "Classical for Children" under the Sony Music Foundation. As a culmination of his year-long efforts, his annual solo recital in Tokyo, held regularly every year, will reach its 36th installment in September 2023. The ambitious programs and refreshing stage presence make his recitals a standout event in the classical music scene.
His discography includes well-received albums such as "Regulus Circuit," "109," "Grand Conductor's Piano Works," "Composer Mravinsky," and "Beethoven Piano Sonata Vol. Category Excellence Award, 2007." His recordings of "Satie Works I & II" were also warmly received, while "Leroy Anderson on Piano" garnered praise from Anderson's family. Notable recent releases include "Mussorgsky: Suite 'Pictures at an Exhibition'" (2014), "Relaxing Piano - Best of Music Therapy," "Chopin of Peace - Best of Music Therapy" (both in 2014), "Nino Rota and Joe Hisaishi Piano Works" (2021), and "Appassionata" (2022).
He received piano instruction from esteemed teachers including Keiko Kanazawa, Yoshie Takara, Jun Date, Hitoshi Kobayashi, and Martin Canyn. He studied chamber music under Felix Galimia, and accompaniment under Jonathan Feldman. Additionally, he serves as a part-time lecturer at both Tokyo University of the Arts and Ochanomizu University.
| Official website | |
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| https://www.instagram.com/mitsutaka_shiraishi/ |
photo credit
©Shohei Yokoyama