Yoko Hirota , Pianist & Educator
Having been praised by the press as “precise and keenly projective” and demonstrating “the highest level of proficiency,” Japanese-Canadian pianist Yoko Hirota is considered one of the leading interpreters of contemporary piano repertory of her generation. Her first CD, “The Piano Music of Arnold Schoenberg with 17 Fragments,” was released to critical acclaim and was recently listed as one of Essential Tracks by The Globe and Mail. Ms. Hirota is a strong advocate of the music of our time and in particular music by Canadian composers. Her performances are often broadcast on Société Radio-Canada.
Born in Japan, Ms. Hirota began piano lessons at age four. She entered the State University of New York at Buffalo where she received her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in piano performance. Yoko pursued her commitment to contemporary piano literature with the prominent Canadian pianist and pedagogue, Louis-Philippe Pelletier, at McGill University. She received her doctoral degree in piano performance from that institution in 1999.
In addition to studies in North America, grants from the Canada Council for the Arts allowed Ms. Hirota to study in Europe with renowned interpreters of contemporary piano music such as Gabor Csalog at the Bartók Music Conservatory in Hungary, Herbert Henck in Germany, and Florent Boffard, former pianist with L'Ensemble InterContemporain in France.
Ms. Hirota’s excellence in the interpretation of contemporary music is reflected in the awards she has received. For example, at the 1996 Clara Liechtenstein Piano Competition (Montreal), the jury requested the organization to create a Special Mention Prize in order to distinguish her excellence in the interpretation of twentieth century repertoire. Other professional accomplishments include winner of the SUNY/Buffalo’s Baird Concerto Competition, and semi-finalist at the Nutley Symphony Orchestra’s concerto competition.
Yoko Hirota has performed across North America. Most recently, she was the featured soloist with the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra, and performed the world premiere of “Oiseau de givre,” a work for piano and orchestra composed for her by the Canadian composer, Robert Lemay*.
Ms, Hirota is also highly regarded for her contemporary chamber ensemble skills. She is a regular guest of the chamber music concert society, Silver Birch Concerts, in Ontario, and has performed in numerous concert series, including the Domaine Forget International Music Festival in Quebec, the Many-One Concert Series in New York City, and the Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival. Ms. Hirota was invited by the notable ensemble, the Nouvel Ensemble Moderne (NEM), to Canadian premiere the challenging work, Joy (for 23 musicians and tape), by the renowned Finnish composer, Magnus Lindberg. The Montreal Gazette gave special recognition of her performance.
In addition to her performance career, Ms. Hirota is a passionate educator and is currently Professor of Piano at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario. She is also co-founder and co-artistic director of the non-profit contemporary-music organization, 5-Penny New Music Concerts. (http://www.5pennynewmusic.ca).
