Jon Nakamatsu: Difference between revisions

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* [http://www.cliburn.org/ Van Cliburn Foundation]
* [http://www.cliburn.org/ Van Cliburn Foundation]
* [http://www.harmoniamundi.com/ harmonia mundi]
* [http://www.harmoniamundi.com/ harmonia mundi]
* [http://www.parkerartists.com/ Parker Artists (management company)]
* [http://www.parkerartists.com/ Parker Artists] (management company)


[[Category:American pianists|Nakamatsu, Jon Yasuhiro]]
[[Category:American pianists|Nakamatsu, Jon Yasuhiro]]

Revision as of 06:36, 23 October 2005

Jon Yasuhiro Nakamatsu is an American pianist.

In June 1997 Nakamatsu won the Gold Medal at the Tenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in Fort Worth, Texas. He was the first American to win it since 1981. Since the competition, he quit his job as a high school German teacher and has become an internationally renowned pianist. Interestingly, he did not attend a music conservatory or major in music while he attended college.

In 2005, Nakamatsu toured with the San Jose Youth Symphony in Spain.

He is represented by Parker Artists, New York.

Education

  • Studied piano privately with Marina Derryberry since age 6 (1974).
  • A.A. Associate of Arts degree, Foothill College (community college), Los Altos Hills, California, 2000 (officially awarded long after degree requirements met)
  • B.A. Bachelor of Arts degree in German Studies, Stanford University, California, 1991
  • M.A. Master of Arts degree in Education, Stanford University, California, 1992

Career

  • 1997-current: Full-time pianist
  • 1991-1997: German language teacher at Saint Francis High School in Mountain View, California and part-time pianist.

Discography

compact discs
title label date
1. Tenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, Jon Nakamatsu, Gold Medalist harmonia mundi June 1997
2. Chopin Selected Works harmonia mundi October 1998
3. Lukas Foss, Piano Concertos, Elegy for Anne Frank harmonia mundi April 2001
4. Rachmaninov, Piano Concerto No. 3, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini harmonia mundi September 2001
5. Wölfl, 4 Piano Sonatas, Piano Sonatos Op. 25 & 33 harmonia mundi November 2003
6. Brahms, Piano Sonata, No. 3 in F minor, Op. 5 harmonia mundi October 2004

Nakamatsu is featured in the documentary movie "Playing with Fire": The Tenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, which aired on PBS television and is available on DVD.

Awards

award competition location date
Gold Medalist ($20,000) Tenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition Fort Worth, Texas June 1997 (quadrennial)
First Prize Fifth U.S. National Chopin Piano Competition Miami, Florida 1995

Personal

Born in California. 36 years old in 2005. Currently resides in San Jose, California but performs away from home 80% of the time. Son of David Y. Nakamatsu (San Jose engineer) and Karen F. Maeda Nakamatsu (city employee). Grandparents live in Hawaii.

External links