"A performance of noble grace and clarity combined with emotional warmth and celestial lyricism." - Elena Vorotko, Keyboard Charitable Trust
Japanese-American pianist Ayane Nakajima has distinguished herself as a celebrated prizewinner in numerous international competitions, including Pianale, Young Texas Artists, International Keyboard Odyssiad, and YoungArts.
Her recent performances span prestigious venues across the United States and Europe, such as Wigmore Hall, Steinway Hall in London and New York, Alice Tully Hall, Rose Studio at Lincoln Center, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, and the New World Center. This upcoming season will mark her German debut. Ayane is also actively involved in summer festivals, having recently participated in the Pianale International Piano Festival and the Académie Internationale d'Été de Nice. Among numerous accolades, she was nominated as a 2019 U.S. Presidential Scholar, awarded the 2023 Louis Sudler Prize in the Arts, recognized as a finalist in the 2024 Royal Overseas League Competition and as the winner of the 2024 RCM Concerto Competition.
In addition to her solo performances, Ayane has a deep passion for song repertoire. She was awarded the pianist prize at both the 2024 Brooks van der Pump English Song Competition at the Royal College of Music and the 2024 AESS Patricia Routledge National English Song Competition.
Growing up in New York City, Ayane began her piano journey at the age of three under the mentorship of Chaim Freiberg at the Kaufman Music Center. From ages six to seventeen, she studied with Dr. Hiromi Fukuda and graduated from Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts.
Ayane is currently pursuing her Master's degree at the Royal College of Music in London with Danny Driver, where she is a Big Give Michael Whittaker Scholar. She received her Bachelor of Music from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music in Houston, Texas, under Dr. Jon Kimura Parker. She has participated in masterclasses with renowned artists such as Jeremy Denk, Dina Yoffe, Akiko Ebi, Uta Weyand, Ronan O'Hara, Logan Skelton, Caroline Hong, Malcolm Martineau, Elena Levit, and Marina Lomazov.