CHOPIN – Kazumitsu Ujisawa

Program:

Chopin

Nocturne in C sharp minor op. posthumous

Nocturne op.15 no.2

Nocturne op.9 no.2

Polonaise-Fantaisie

Three Waltzes op.64

Variations brillantes op.12

Andante spianato and polonaise brillante op.22

Kazumitsu Ujisawa is a Japanese pianist with a remarkable journey. In 2015, at only 17 years old, he became the youngest winner of the prestigious VEGA competition in Takarazuka, Japan, a feat that marked the beginning of a promising career. He then performed in recitals in major Japanese cities such as Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, captivating his audience with his expressive playing and technical mastery. In 2016, Kazumitsu Ujisawa entered the Tokyo University of the Arts (GEIDAI), where he perfected his playing under the guidance of Akiyoshi Sako. The following year, he moved to Paris, where he was admitted to the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris (CNSMDP). He obtained a bachelor's degree in the class of Roger Muraro, before pursuing his Master's under the direction of Michel Dalberto and Jonas Vitaud, thereby forging solid academic and musical training within one of Europe's most prestigious institutions.

In 2024, he was selected to join the Elite Program of the École Normale de Musique de Paris, a selective class composed of ten exceptional students, including three pianists. This program allows him to benefit from the teaching of Marie-Catherine Girod. In parallel, Kazumitsu Ujisawa specializes in accompaniment at the CNSMDP by collaborating closely with other artists. Under the direction of Géraldine Dutroncy, he develops particular expertise in the art of accompaniment, enriching his musical palette and expanding his range of skills.

His passion for the Spanish repertoire gives him a unique place among pianists of his generation. In 2016, he performed Books I and III of Albéniz's Iberia in Tokyo. In 2021, he gave a recital devoted to works by Albéniz, Granados and Mompou in Hyogo. In 2022, he distinguished himself in Osaka by performing the entirety of Granados' Goyescas, confirming his unique affinity with this repertoire.

His talent has been repeatedly rewarded: in 2018, he received the support of the Fonds Tarazzi, followed in 2020 by prestigious scholarships from the Yamaha Music Foundation of Europe, the Fondation Meyer and the Fondation L'Or du Rhin. In 2022, he was once again a laureate of the Fondation Meyer.

Competitions have crowned his efforts: in 2023, he won the First Prize at the Claude Kahn Competition, which allowed him to perform in the prestigious Salle Gaveau in Paris. That same year, he won Second Prize at the Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux Competition and Third Prize at the Brest Competition.

Kazumitsu Ujisawa embodies rigor, sensitivity and boldness, qualities that make him a prominent figure on the international music scene.