Tokyo Music Competition
ABE Maria
Piano
Born in: Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan
1st place, and Audience Award, Piano Section, The 8th Tokyo Music Competition 2010
Musical Study Experiences
2007 Took lessons from Sergei Dorensky, Andrei Pisarev and Pavel Nersessian at the Russian Piano School in Tokyo ; performed in the selected students concert
2008 Took lessons from Christian Ivaldi in master classes at La Folle Journée Tokyo
2010 Took lessons from Jean-Claude Pennetier at La Folle Journée Tokyo; took lessons from Pascal Devoyon and Murata Rikako at the Courchevel International Music Academy ; took campus based master classes from Hüseyin Sermet
2011 At Euro Music Festival took lessons from Karl-Heinz Kämmerling; at Music Fest Pergia took
lessons from Gary Graffman; graduated from Ueno Gakuen University Performers Course receiving special commendation at graduation; completed her 4-year study at the university as a full tuition fee waiver
2012 March: Graduated from the advanced course in music at Ueno Gakuen University, as a full tuition fee waiver ; performed in concert for the Japanese imperial family at the Toka-Gakudo concert
2012 Enrolled in the University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna from October
2013 Took lessons from Klaus Hellwig at Fellbach; performed in class concert and final concert; received lessons at the Mozarteum University Salzburg summer academy from Olivier Gardon; performed in class concert and academy concert
2013 Trainee of the Program of Overseas Study for Upcoming Artists 2013 supported by Agency of Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan
2014 June: Graduated from the University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna; October: enrolled at the Berlin University of the Arts
Teachers
Previously studied piano under Yokoyama Yukio, Tabe Kyoko, Michael Krist and Miyamoto Rena; chamber music under Imai Nobuko, Harada Sadao and Shimono Tatsuya
Currently engaged in further study with Markus Groh
Musical Careers
| 2000 | Finalist, Primary School Category, Fukuoka Regional, the 54th Student Music Concours of Japan |
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| 2002 | 2nd Place, Middle School Category, Fukuoka Regional, the 56th Student Music Concours of Japan |
| 2005 | Semi-finalist, the 1st Chopin Piano Competition in Japan |
| 2008 | Unanimous medal winner, the 54th "Maria Canals" Barcelona International Musical Execution Competition (Spain) Excellence Award, the 21st Ichikawa City Cultural Promotion Foundation Newcomer Musician Concert |
| 2009 | Grand Prix, the 37th Nagasaki Prefecture Debut Concert Finalist, Piano Category, the 78th Music Competition of Japan |
| 2010 | 1st Place, Piano Section and Audience Award, the 8th Tokyo Music Competition Performed various recitals in all over Japan including Ibaraki Prefecture, Shizuoka Prefecture, Kanagawa Prefecture: ⁃Joint recital of the Frédéric Chopin Society of Japan 225th “Chopin” Recital Series ⁃Joint recital and chamber music concert in the concerts hosted by Ichikawa City Cultural Promotion Foundation ⁃Solo recital in the Music Competition of Japan Winner Series ⁃Sakura Plaza Hall Opening Concert for the hall's opening In recent years Abe has been active in: ⁃NHK-FM recording at the concerts (NHK-FM Chiba, NHK-FM Meikyoku [masterpiece] Recital) ⁃Solo recitals (Tokyo Bunka Kaikan Morning Concert, the Frédéric Chopin Society of Japan Chopin Festival) ⁃Chamber music performance and more |
Further Activities
Overseas: recitals in Spain and performances at the Music Fest Perugia, the Musikverein and the Wiener Konzerthaus
Previously performed with the following orchestras:
Kraków State Philharmony
Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra
Kyushu Symphony Orchestra (led by Sato Kotaro)
Ueno Gakuen University Orchestra (led by Shimono Tatsuya and Okochi Masahiko)
Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra (led by Enkoji Masahiko)
Japan Philharmonic Orchestra (led by Umeda Toshiaki and Alexander Lazarev)
Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra (led by Umeda Toshiaki)
OMURA Chamber Ensemble (led by Matsubara Katsuya)
Tokyo Symphony Orchestra (led by Rossen Gergov)
New Japan Philharmonic (led by Enkoji Masahiko)
Repertoire
From Baroque to contemporary, studying with a focus on Classical period (in particular Beethoven). I am also studying the harpsichord and fortepiano (under Watanabe Yoshio).
Additionally I am strongly drawn to Chopin, Debussy and Prokofiev’s works.
Further Profiles
1988 Born in Nagasaki Prefecture and began learning piano from 3 years of age