Artist Profile
Hiroko MINAHiroko Minakami (Hiroko MINA)
Pianist Composer
She is one of popular pianists in Japan, and has been described in well-known music magazines as ``It's not from competitions, but with the support of many audiences, and has gained popularity''.
She has many fans also in China and Romania.
Critics call her "the stranger in the classical music world" because she has expanded the fan base of classical music with her witty talk, vocals, and her original music.
She started playing the piano at the age of 3, while listening to Record and television, and started piano lesson at the age of 6.
1978- studied piano under Walter Panhofer at the University of Music and Arts Vienna
1979-- entered Musashino Academia Musicae. Studied under Jan Horák.
1989-made professional debut in Melbourne, Australia. Performed throughout Australia
1991-studied under Lev Naumov at the Moscow Conservatory.
1993-studied under Ana Iftinci
Universities that have been invited to give performances (overseas)
Dunhuang University of the Arts/Beijing Foreign Studies University/Liaoning Normal University/Dalian University of Technology/Tianjin Nankai University (China) Latrobe University (Australia)/George Enescu University of the Arts/Cluj-Napoca College of Music (Romania) Busan Academy of Arts (Korea) etc. many
Commemorative performances invited so far (overseas)
Japan-China diplomatic 35th anniversary, 40th anniversary, 45th anniversary, 50th anniversary, Beijing Olympics celebration performance, etc.
United States (Chicago, Los Angeles) Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur)
France (Paris) England (London)
Holland (Nord Oostpolder) Peace Concert
Since returning to Japan in 1996, she has given more than 3,000 concerts in Japan, Europe and Asia, and has released 12 CDs, all of which are hits. The original song was also used as the theme song for Japanese TV programs.
Also her autobiography hit the bestseller list in publisher.
In recent years, she makes strong effort to give concerts using Hiroshima bombed pianos.
Beside, she has been highly evaluated for activities such as stage director of plays, invitation of overseas artists, establishment of music competitions, and music director of international music festivals.
Genre: Contemporary ClassicalActive area: Fukuoka Japan
A-HEAD RECORDS