Yoko Misumi

Born in Kyoto to a musical family, Yoko started very early her piano lessons, showing at a very early age her talent and musicianship. At age 14 she was already a prize-winner of Kyoto Piano Competition. After graduating from Kyoto Music High School, she moved to London to continue her studies with Nina Sereda( former student of Neuhaus ) and Martino Tirimo ( soloist ).

Yoko has appeared as a soloist with conductors such as James Judd and Barry Wordsworth. She gave performances in Kyoto Concert Hall, Amsterdam Concertgebouw, St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Wigmore Hall, Kings Place and Adrian Boult Hall. She has participated in master classes with Stephen Kovacevich, Menahem Pressler, Bernard Greenhouse, Dietrich Banhoeffer, Neal Larrabee, Elisabeth Dvorak-Weissmar, Kiri Te Kanawa, Ralph Kirshbaum, Rivka Golani, William Aide, Norma Fischer and Dmitri Alexeev.

She is the recipient of many prizes and awards, among them are the First Prize of the John Longmire Beethoven Competition, Second Prize of the Beethoven Piano Society of Europe Intercollegiate competion. Yoko is also a former pianist of ‘The Greenwich Trio’ ; together with the other two members, Stjepan Hauser and Lana Trotovsek, they have made an enormous impact in music scene today. Bernard Greenhouse as their mentor, their success have lead to USA,UK, Spain, Italy, Slovenia and Croatia. Their award include Solti Foundation Award, Tunnel Trust Award.

Yoko is now in demand as a chamber musician and an accompanist, having performed in Japan, New Zealand, USA and Europe. Her CD ‘Portraits’ together with cellist Stjepan Hauser is available from Meridian Records. Her recent CD ‘Romantic Trios’ was recorded in Dec 2010 together with Stjepan Hauser (cello) and Leslie Craven (Clarinet) and is now available from Denmore Record.

Curretly she is a pofessional accompanist at guildall school of music and drama.