Yukiko Akagi, Piano

Biography

Pianist Yukiko Akagi enjoys a blossoming career as recitalist, concerto soloist and chamber musician. Based in New York City, she has performed throughout the U.S., France, Spain and Japan. She made her critically acclaimed New York recital debut at Carnegie's Weill Recital Hall in October, 2004. Ms. Akagi was 1st Prize Winner at The Jose Roca International Piano Competition 2006, and was the 2nd Prize Winner at both the Maria Canals International Piano Competition 2005 in Barcelona, and the Guerrero International Piano Competition 2006 in Madrid. She made her New York orchestral debut performing Ravel's G Major Piano Concerto at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall in New York, where she was featured soloist as the Grand Prize Winner of the 2002 Mannes College Concerto Competition.

Among other honors, Ms. Akagi has been a prize winner at the Dorothy Mackenzie Competition of the International Keyboard Institute & Festival, the 16* Luis A. Ferre Competition, the Frinna Awerbuch International Competition, the National Piano Teachers Association of Japan Competition, and in 2002 was the recipient of an Artist Grant from the New York Foundation for the Arts.

During the 2006-07 season Yukiko Akagi has been heard throughout Spain, Japan and the U.S. In addition to standard repertoire, she also performed many world-premier works. As a soloist, her Grieg Piano Concerto performance with The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra under Maestro Salvador Brotons was well reviewed. In addition, Ms. Akagi is also an active chamber musician and has been working as a pianist in the organization, Asian Artists & Concerts.                                           

In Spain, she has appeared in Barcelona's Palau de la Musica with the Sinfonica del Valles orchestra, and at Madrid's Teatro Monumental with the Radio-Television Orchestra of Spain. Her performances have been broadcast on New York's WQXR, Cleveland's WCLV, Portland's KBPS and Spanish National Television.

Ms. Akagi earned her Bachelor of Music degree at Toho Conservatory in her native Tokyo, Japan. She received her Master of Music Degree from Mannes College of Music and her Professional Studies Certificate from Manhattan School of Music. Since 2006, she has been mentored by the legendary pianist Ruth Slenczynska.