Mahoko Nakano is a pianist of refinement, imagination and wide-ranging artistic curiosity. Her work is distinguished by a constant search for connections across musical styles, periods and artistic disciplines. Her playing has been praised by the musical press as: "Delicate and refined, superbly nuanced and rhythmically poised." She has also been described as: "A pianist of sparkling charm, approaching diverse musical worlds with sincerity and intensity." Her repertoire extends from Bach to the music of the twenty-first century. Equally at home in solo recital and artistic collaboration, she has performed with instrumentalists, actors and artists working in electroacoustic music, bringing together classical tradition and contemporary forms of expression. Her performances and artistic activities have been featured on television, radio and digital media, including NHK, Radio Notre Dame and Internet Radio OTTAVA.
Artistic Journey
Mahoko Nakano began studying the piano at the age of four. At the age of ten, she appeared regularly for six months on NHK Educational Television's weekly piano programme. After graduating from Toho Gakuen Music High School and pursuing advanced studies at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, she moved to Paris, where she was awarded a residency at the Cité internationale des arts. This formative period in France led her to continue her studies at the École Normale de Musique de Paris, where she was awarded the Diplôme Supérieur de Concertiste by unanimous decision of the jury.
International Career
Selected for a scholarship residency at the Banff Centre for the Arts in Canada, Mahoko Nakano spent three months immersed in an international artistic community, giving numerous performances with guest and resident artists. Her artistry has been recognised at numerous international competitions, including the Rovere d'Oro Grand Prix, the IBLA Grand Prize, the Albert Roussel International Competition in Sofia, and the Masterplayers International Music Competition in Lugano. In May 2022, she became the first Japanese recipient of a Gold Medal from the Ligue Universelle du Bien Public.
Selected Engagements in Europe and Asia
Mahoko Nakano is regularly invited to perform throughout Europe and Asia. Recent and notable appearances include:Maison natale Claude-Debussy - Saison musicale Debussy, "Dimanche chez Debussy" (2026)
UNESCO, Club des Délégués - presented by AIA (2026)
Musashino Swing Hall (2026)
Domaine de Séguéla (2025)
Château du Cayrou (2024)
Cercle National des Armées, Paris (2023)
Salle Cortot, Paris - presented by Les Nouveaux Virtuoses (2023)
Musashino Civic Cultural Hall - presented by the Musashino Cultural Foundation (2013)
Reid Hall, Paris - presented by La Dive Note (2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019)
L'Estran - Fondation Polignac (2017, 2021)
Maison de la culture du Japon à Paris - presented by the Japan Foundation (2011, 2016)
Kioi Hall, Tokyo - presented by Gamo Ltd. (2003, 2009, 2013)
Bechstein Salon - presented by Euro Piano (2014, 2015, 2017)
Salon Opéra / Salon Ravel, InterContinental Paris Le Grand (2014, 2024)
Nonaka Anna Hall - presented by Support Music Society (2019, 2020)
Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan (2010)
Théâtre du Moulin d'Andé (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016)
Kawai Salon, Omotesando (2002, 2005, 2008, 2010)
Yamaha Hall, Tokyo - presented by World Air-Sea Service Co., Ltd. (2006)
Musashi Hall (2008-2013)
Maison du Japon, Cité internationale universitaire de Paris (1999)
Beijing Concert Hall - with support from the Japan Foundation (1998)
Auditorium Edmond Michelet, Cité internationale des arts, Paris (1991, 1992, 1997)
She has performed with distinguished artists including Gérard Poulet, Alain Meunier and Thomas Prévost. Alongside her concert career, Mahoko Nakano has taught piano at the Faculty of Music, Ferris University. She has served as an invited juror at international competitions and has been invited to give masterclasses at leading conservatories in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenyang and Xi'an.
Performances at Ambassadorial Residences
Residence of the Ambassador of France to Japan - 2025
Residence of the Ambassador of Japan to the OECD, Neuilly-sur-Seine,
France - 2012, 2013
Residence of the Ambassador of Japan to Cambodia, Phnom Penh - 2006
Residence of the Ambassador of Japan to China, Beijing - 1998, 2002
Festival Appearances
Festival Pierre Cardin, Lacoste - 2020 MUSICACOUSTICA-BEIJING - 2015 Festival d'été au Château de la Petite Malmaison - 2015, 2022, 2024, 2025 Summer Festival in Suginami - 2010 The 3rd Asia Festival, Beijing - 2000 Festival Musicale delle Alpi Marittime - 1995 Varna Summer International Music Festival, Bulgaria - 1991
Mahoko Nakano is an accomplished pianist with an international career as both a soloist and chamber musician, performing across Europe, Asia, and Canada at concerts, festivals, and diverse musical events. She began piano lessons at the age of four and, by ten, was a regular on Piano no Okeiko, a program on NHK Educational Television in Japan. After studying at Toho Girls' High School's Music Department, she trained at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna and later at the École Normale de Musique de Paris, earning the Diplôme Supérieur de Concertiste with unanimous jury approval. She was also selected to study at the Banff Centre in Canada for advanced artistic training. Nakano has won several international competitions, including the Rovere d'Oro International Music Competition, and earned distinctions at the Albert Roussel and Masterplayers International Piano Competitions, leading to numerous festival appearances. Her recordings include the solo albums Live and Le Temps Romantique, as well as Au cœur du romantisme slave with the Quatuor Élysée, which received five stars from Classica magazine. In addition to performing, she has taught at Ferris University in Yokohama and published extensively on music, with a focus on Frédéric Chopin, his historical and cultural context, and the creative process.
