3, 4 February 2010

Piano recitals by internationally lauded Japanese pianist Ms. Mari Kumamoto

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The Embassy of Japan in cooperation with Japan Foundation and The Japanese Alumni Association in Amman held two piano recitals by talented Japanese pianist Ms. Mari Kumamoto on the occasion of her first visit to the Middle East.

The recitals were held at Terra Sancta College on 3^rd February at 7:00pm and at Al Hussein Cultural Center on 4^th February at 7:30pm.

Ms. Kumamoto performed pieces by Chopin, Liszt, Schumann, Brahms, Bizet, Hajime Okumura, Mompou, Granados and Larregla.

She is one of the busiest multitalented pianists in Japan, making many national and international tours as well as frequent appearances on Japanese television.

Ms. Kumamoto was born in Japan. She had studied under Joaquin Soriano at the Madrid National School of Music in 1975. She took the first prize in the Spain Youth Music Contest. In 1982, she entered the Julliard School of Music on a scholarship, where she studied under Sascha Gorodnitzki. In 1985, she entered the Royal Academy of Music in the U.K., where she studied under Christopher Elton, and privately, under Andrew Esterhazy.
 

Ms. Kumamoto won a prize at the Newport International Music Competition for Young Pianists, which was presented by the late Diana, Princess of Wales. After graduating the Royal Academy of Music in 1986, she became the youngest recipient of the Recital Diploma. From 1993 until 2006 she held many recitals in Prague, Spain, Japan and Austria.

In April 2008, she became a professor of Music Performance Department, Osaka University of Arts.