The Yokohama International Piano Concert is a prime example of ongoing effort to promote the new and the best in culture by city of Yokohama.
Every year, as part of our efforts to discover and introduce new talent, we invite winners of international piano contests to perform at the Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall.

This event was started in 1982 through the unstinting efforts of pianist, educator, and judge at many international piano contests, Ms. YAMAOKA Yuko, her supporters and fans.

The first concert was organized by the Yokohama International Piano Concert Planning Committee, the City of Yokohama, and the Yokohama Board of Education and held at the Kanagawa Prefectural Music Hall, and later at the Kanagawa Kenmin Hall or the Kannai Hall.
In 1998, the Concert was moved to the newly opened the Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall, where it has been held ever since, organized by the Yokohama Arts Foundation and co-organized by the City of Yokohama.

The 190 or more talented young pianists from 28 countries have graced the Yokohama International Piano Concert stage, playing either solo or with orchestral accompaniment. Many have gone on to become top-ranked artists with distinguished careers. For young pianists, participation in this Concert is a mark of distinction.

Selection of the pianists is the work of a planning committee composed of individuals who are themselves top-ranked performers.
To be eligible to participate, pianists must be thirty-five or younger and, in principle, have won awards at two or more international prestige competitions. Candidates are carefully screened before the final selection is made.

Since the first Concert, members of the committee have included, in addition to YAMAOKA Yuko, such renowned artists as ONO Kazushi, KATOH Nobuyoshi, NOMURA Koichi, MIYAKE Yoichiroh, MIYOSHI Akira, and YAMADA Kazuo.
The current committee is composed of EBI Akiko, whom Ms. YAMAOKA designated her successor as committee chair, HIRONAKA Takashi, HORI Ryosuke, ITOH Kei, and SUDA Mamiko.

The Yokohama International Piano Concert is notable for its long history during which, from the very start, it has received warm and generous support from numerous individuals.
Particularly noteworthy is Mr. HIROSE Osamu, who, in a time when facilities for practicing music were rare in Yokohama, built studios equipped with pianos at his own expense and provided them free of charge to the performers. Mr. HIROSE was also responsible for many companies besides forming tie-ups with the Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall and providing the financial backing without which the Concert would not be possible.
Another notable patron was the Hotel New Grand’s Mr. HARA Noriyuki, who proposed the formation of the Friends of the Yokohama International Piano Concert, to which many local companies and individuals who supported the Concert belonged.
Musical instrument companies have also been generous with their support. At present Yamaha Corporation provides both comprehensive technical support and sponsorship.

The Yokohama International Piano Concert has become a cherished nexus for the performers, guests and others from Yokohama involved with the event to engage in cultural exchange.
In recent years, in addition to concerts, we have been variety of related programs including master classes in chamber music, special lectures on tuning and baroque dance, and exchange meetings for children. The continuing expansion of its scope has made it one of the world’s leading piano festivals.