Hideki Kozakura

Hideki Kozakura (born in Seto, Japan), who is presently residing in Berlin, leads a professional life both as a pianist as well as a composer. Having graduated from both Bachelor and Master degrees from the Tokyo University of Fine Arts and Music under the supervision of Teruyuki Noda and Akira Miyoshi, he studied for a year with Tristan Murail in New York in 1999 under the Japanese Government Overseas Programme. He received his second Masters degree in composition from the Royal College of Music in Stockholm (Kungliga Musikhögskolan) under the guidance of Pär Lindgren, Bent Sørensen and Örjan Sandred (electronic music). Ever since he won equal first Prize in the 1997 Takemitsu Composition Competition, his pieces have been performed by leading musicians and orchestras in many parts of Japan, Europe and North America. Selected prizes for his winning pieces include the Japan Symphonic Prize, Nagoya Cultural Promotion Prize, scholarships and a research grant from the Nomura-Foundation, as well as the Agency for Cultural Affairs Performing Arts Prize, the Berlin Culture and Science Prize, and several awards piano competitions in Japan. His music is influenced by the traditional Japanese performing arts such as Kabuki Theatre or Kyogen (traditional short comedic drama), and techno. Being very active in projects involving cultural exchange with invited musicians from abroad, at the end of 2005 he teamed up with colleague Jummei Suzuki to found "Nuovo Virtuoso" a composer unit dedicated to promoting young and promising musicians and composers from both home and abroad. He also gives many lectures and master classes at various Universities. Kozakura's music is recorded on the labels BIS and Media Artes. Kozakura's up-coming concerts/performances in 2008/2009 are given in Japan, Germany, Sweden, Mexico, Serbia, Italy and Spain.I edited my profile with Thomas Myspace Editor V4.4I edited my profile with Thomas Myspace Editor V4.4