- Jon Nakamatsu
Jon Yasuhiro Nakamatsu is a
Japanese American pianist . Nakamatsu was born in 1968 inSan Jose, California [ [http://www.ohlone.edu/org/foundation/archives/20061105jonnakamatsu.html Ohlone College Foundation Event Archive] ] . Jon still resides in San Jose but mostly performs away from home. He is the son of David Y. Nakamatsu (San Jose engineer) and Karen F. Maeda Nakamatsu (city employee).In June
1997 Nakamatsu won the Gold Medal at the TenthVan Cliburn International Piano Competition inFort Worth, Texas . He is the first American to win this prize since 1981. Right after the competition, he quit his job as a high school German teacher to pursue a career as a classical pianist. Interestingly, he did not attend a music conservatory or major in music while he attended college and graduate school.During the summer of 2005, Nakamatsu toured with the
San Jose Youth Symphony in Spain, performing the Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 2, and in June 2007, he toured with the Peninsula Youth Orchestra toBudapest ,Prague , andTeplice playing the same piece.Education
* Studied piano privately with Marina Derryberry [ [http://ed.stanford.edu/suse/news-bureau/displayRecord.php?tablename=susenews&id=304 Stanford University School of Education > News Bureau ] ] since age 6 (1974).
* Graduated fromProspect High School , Saratoga, California, 1986
* 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, 1992Career
* May-June 2007: Regular Jury member, Fifth International Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs, Fort Worth, Texas
* 2006-current: Co-Artistic Director of Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival (with Jon Manasse) [ [http://www.capecodchambermusic.org/ Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival website] ]
* June 2000: Regular Jury member (preliminaries only), Second International Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs, Fort Worth, Texas
* June 1999: Regular Jury member (all three rounds), First International Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs, Fort Worth, Texas
* 1997–current: Full-time pianist
* 1991–1997: German language teacher at Saint Francis High School inMountain View, California and part-time pianist.Trivia
* Named Debut Artist of the Year in 1998 by
National Public Radio ’s Performance Today.
* Was featured inReader's Digest in 1998.
* Has been profiled onCBS Sunday Morning .
* Was known as "Johann" in his high school German class with teacher, Frau Thom. [http://melissahastings.blogspot.com/2007/07/jon-nakamastu-aka-johann.html]Discography
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
References
External links
* [http://www.jonnakamatsu.com/ Jon Nakamatsu official web site]
* [http://www.cliburn.org/ Van Cliburn Foundation]
* [http://www.harmoniamundi.com/ Harmonia Mundi]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5smz7gycqQ/ youtube]
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