Japanese pianist Masayuki Tayama spent much of his childhood in London. He later attended the Soloist Diploma Course at the Toho University of Music in Tokyo, and was subsequently awarded a Fellowship under the Japanese Government Overseas Study Programme for Artists to study in the UK, where he gained the Performer's Diploma with Honours from both the Royal College of Music and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.
Tayama first came to prominence when he won First Prize in the Takahiro Sonoda International Piano Competition in Japan, followed by numerous top prizes in Europe including the Birmingham International Piano Competition and the Grand Konzerteum International Piano Competition in Greece.
His first recording of the two Rachmaninov sonatas was chosen by Stereo magazine as one of the Best Recordings of the Month, and his second CD of the complete Rachmaninov Etudes-Tableaux has recently been released. During 2011-12 he will be recording the composer’s complete works for solo piano.
Tayama now lives in London, and performs extensively in Europe, returning regularly to Japan for recital and concerto appearances.
His recital at Toppan Hall in Tokyo in 2005 was broadcast on Nikkei National Radio in Japan, and his performances of Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No.3 with Osaka Symphonika at The Symphony Hall in Osaka, twice on the same day in July 2006, were hailed as “re-inventing the image of Rachmaninov”. He made his USA debut in 2006 at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, where the recital was broadcast live on the Internet.
Tayama’s London debut was in 2002 at the South Bank’s Purcell Room, and in 2007 he gave his debut recital to a sell-out audience at the Wigmore Hall. In May 2010 he made a successful return appearance at the Wigmore Hall with a programme including Rachmaninov’s complete Etudes-Tableaux Op.39.
His recent performances with orchestra, notably at Cadogan Hall, the Fairfield Halls and St. John’s Smith Square include Rachmaninov’s Piano Concertos Nos.2, 3 and 4 and Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, and the two Piano Concertos by Brahms, collaborating with conductors including Stephen Bell, Adrian Brown, Darrell Davison, John Gibbons, Levon Parikian and Vladimir Valek.
Tayama is one of the youngest faculty members at Chetham’s School of Music, and in 2009 and 2010 he gave solo recitals and Master Classes at the Chetham’s International Summer School and Festival for Pianists.
His highlights for 2011 include Bach and Mozart Concertos with the Arion Orchestra on 14th May at St. James’ Piccadilly, and a Liszt Piano Concerto No.1 in June at the Last Night of the Proms at St. Jude’s with the Southbank Sinfonia.
Official Website: www.masatayama.com
