Mayumi Sakamoto

Mayumi Sakamoto graduated from the Tokyo University of the Arts. As a Rohm Music Foundation scholar, she was able to pursue further studies at the Hanover University of Music and Drama, and upon graduating from the soloist department there, she officially qualified as a Konzertexamen, the highest award in postgraduate studies in German Conservatoires.

During her career, Mayumi has achieved a number of notable successes at international music competitions, winning the 1st Prize at the Cologne International Music Competition and at the Grieg International Piano Competition in Norway. She received 2nd Prize at the Top of the World International Piano Competition in Norway, at the Andorra International Piano Competition and the Pausylipon International Piano Competition sponsored by the Italian Agency for Cultural Affairs. In addition, Mayumi won prizes at the Scottish International Piano Competition and the Pinerolo International Piano Competition. Moreover, she was honoured with diplomas at both the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Russia and the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in the USA.

Invitations to perform as a soloist have taken Mayumi all over the world, from Japan to Germany and beyond. Her impressive list of soloist performances includes playing alongside the WDR Cologne Radio Orchestra, the Göttingen Symphony Orchestra, the Karelian State Symphony Orchestra, the Frankfurt Brandenburg State Orchestra, and even the New Orchestra of Washington. Within Japan, Mayumi has appeared at the Yokohama International Piano Concert.

Furthermore, she devotes time to researching classic pieces, and at the invitation of the Wilhelm Kempf Cultural Foundation, took an intensive course held at Positano, Italy, into the interpretation of Beethoven's work. As a result of her dedication and research, she has appeared on numerous television and radio programs.

In the field of education, since working as a piano lecturer at the Tokyo University of the Arts, Mayumi has since gone on to hold positions at the Kyoto City University of Arts and Tokyo College of Music. While continuing with her regular piano performances, Mayumi provides invaluable guidance for future generations, currently serving as a visiting researcher at the Graduate School of Medicine of Kyoto University, director of the Music Society of Japan, and director of the All Japan Piano Competition.

Until now, her recorded works include the much-anticipated CD album releases of "Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 20 & 21” (accompanied by WDR Cologne Radio Orchestra conducted by Niklas Willen) and "Grieg", which have been highly praised for their colourful and captivating performances.