Biography
Satomi Chihara is a Japanese pianist and piano teacher based in the Netherlands. She completed her Bachelor's degree in classical piano at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam in 2018, where she studied with Professor Willem Brons. For her final recital, she was awarded the special talent scholarship from the Jacques Vonk Fund, which is presented to outstanding graduates. She continued her studies with Professor Naum Grubert and received her Master's degree from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam in 2020.
In 2022, she was awarded Third Prize and the Bärenreiter Praha Prize at the 58th Beethoven’s Hradec International Competition for her performance of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5, “Emperor,” with the Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra. The chair of the jury described her performance as “very concentrated and demonic.”
During her studies in the Netherlands, she received prizes at the Young Pianists Foundation Competition in 2015 and the Princess Christina Competition in 2016. She has performed throughout the Netherlands, including a solo recital at the Concertgebouw Kleine Zaal in 2022. She was also invited to participate in the International Holland Music Sessions in 2017 and the Naarden International Piano Festival in 2021. Since 2018, she has regularly participated in Professor Willem Brons’ International Masterclass in Amsterdam.
Alongside her performing activities, she maintains an active teaching practice, offering piano lessons to children and adults of various ages and levels.