MICHIKO IMURA
Michiko Imura, Piano
Japanese pianist Michiko Imura completed her studies at Tokyo University of the Arts, where she earned a Master of Music degree with a research performance of J.S. Bach’s Goldberg Variations. She subsequently studied at the Berlin University of the Arts as a Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholar under the guidance of Klaus Hellwig. At her graduation examination, she received the highest examination grade for her performance of works by Franz Schubert. She then continued her studies in the university’s prestigious Konzertexamen program, earning the German Concert Artist Diploma.
A prizewinner in numerous national and international competitions, Imura was awarded First Prize at the Concours Marronnier 21, Second Prize (highest prize awarded) at the Arthur Schnabel International Piano Competition, and a Diploma Prize at the International J.S. Bach Competition in Leipzig. She was also selected for the Steinway Prize Recital Series in Berlin and for the Young Artists Development Project sponsored by Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs and the Japan Federation of Musicians.
Her performances have taken her throughout Europe and Japan, appearing at venues including Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, Salle Cortot in Paris, Steinway-Haus Berlin, the Japanese Embassy in Germany, the Japan-German Center Berlin, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum. She has performed as a soloist and chamber musician in France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Spain, Japan, and the United States.
Imura studied piano with Hideko Yamaoka, Hiroko Uchikawa, Sumiko Mikimoto, Nobuko Kondo, Yu Kakuno, Gabriel Tacchino, and Klaus Hellwig. She also studied German Lied collaboration with Konrad Richter and chamber music with Gregor Sigl.
Her musical foundation is rooted in the tradition extending from J.S. Bach through the Viennese Classical repertoire to German Romanticism. While she regards the music of J.S. Bach and Franz Schubert as lifelong artistic companions, her repertoire spans a wide range of works from the Classical period to contemporary music.
Alongside her solo career, Imura is an active chamber musician and collaborative pianist. In recent years, she has devoted increasing attention to duo and trio repertoire as well as German Lied, believing that artistic dialogue with fellow musicians offers new perspectives on musical interpretation.
Currently based between Dallas and Tokyo, she is active as a performer and teacher.