The distinguished Japanese pianist Tomoko Yoneyama was born in Kofu, a city situated among the foothills of Mount Fuji in the prefecture Yamanashi.

She began to play the piano at the age of 3 and her outstanding talent was soon recognised and encouraged. At the age of 7 she won a talent competition leading to an interview and recording for TBS Tokyo.

A milestone in her development was her early acceptance as a pupil of the legendary pianist and teacher Prof. Akiko Iguchi at the age of 11.

It was Prof. Iguchi who introduced her to Prof. Klaus Schilde the renowned pupil of Marguerite Long. She studied intensively with Prof. Schilde at the Musikhochschule Detmold and the Hochschule der Künste, Berlin, before completing her studies with the Alfred Cortot pupil Prof. Jean Micault in Saarbrücken. Here she passed the demanding Performers Exam (consisting of 3 recitals and 4 concertos to be performed within 4 weeks!) with distinction.

Further impulses for her musical development were received at masterclasses given by Prof. György Sebők, Prof. Jürgen Uhde, Prof. Dr. Joseph Dichler and Prof. Hans Leygraf.

Competitions she has won include the Walter Gieseking Prize and Finale Ligure.

She has given highly acclaimed recitals throughout Europe, and appeared as soloist with orchestras including the Württembergische Philharmonic Reutlingen, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra and Aachen Symphony Orchestra.

She has made radio recordings for SWF, WDR, SR, SDR, Radio Limburg (The Netherlands), TBS and NHK (Japan) and her recently released benefit-CD “A Smile for Every Child” has, along with introductory recitals, been very successful in raising funds for Unicef.

Among the many contemporary works Tomoko Yoneyama has premiered are Sir Michael Tippett’s piano concerto, of which she gave the Japanese first performance, and Jaime Padros “Musica Cambiante”, commissioned for the 1st Tonkünstlerfest in Baden-Württemberg.

She has also sat on the jury of piano competitions, including Viotti Varallo, given masterclasses, together with Prof. Micault and taught at many musical institutions, including the Hochschule des Saarlandes.

Her repertoire is broad, and whether in her interpretations of the Baroque and Classical masters, the Romantic virtuosi or the 20th century “moderns”, the brilliance of her technique, the variety of colour, and the sensitivity of her interpretations have been widely admired by critics and audiences alike.