Hitomi Koyama
Piano
Hitomi Koyama (Piano)
Lessons Available in Japanese/English
Cincinnati-College Conservatory, University of Cincinnati / Doctoral Candidacy
University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna / Post Graduate Diploma
Mannes School of Music / Master of Music
The Juilliard School / Bachelor of Music
Teaching History:
Over 20 years experience teaching piano at music institutions (pre-college, college, graduate school) in the US. In addition to teaching piano performance, taught chamber music and piano literature. Invited to teach master classes and workshops at universities and music festivals in the US, Singapore, and Japan.
Student’s Accomplishments:
Students are accepted and continue their studies at the most sought-after U.S. institutions such as the Juilliard School, New England Conservatory, Eastman / University of Rochester, Manhattan School of Music, etc. Students are selected to participate in prestigious competitions such as Van Cliburn Jr, Gina Bachauer Jr, etc. Recent competition prizes including 3rd prize at the Ettlingen International Piano Competition (Category A) in Germany, 1st prize at the Jeune Chopin Competition in Switzerland, 1st prize at Harvard Musical Association Achievement Award Competition.
Message:
The most important thing in my teaching is to make students enjoy learning. With the various experiences I have gained in 24 years overseas, I will support the musical and personal development of each student, nurture their sensitivity and guide them in the development of their individuality. I spent three years fully recovering from tendonitis when I was a student. I relearned the basics of playing the piano, realizing that releasing physical tension is essential for natural performance. Since then, my goal has been to teach students a performance technique that does not strain their bodies, produces beautiful tones, and has deep musical expression.
Likes:
Spending time with my cat, Coco, Taking care of house plants, Driving on unfamilar roads, Going to Ganbanyoku spa
Biography
Born in Tokyo, Japan, Hitomi Koyama has won prizes in consecutive years at Dichler Competition held in Vienna, Austria and also has received Leni Fe Bland Music Awards. At the age of sixteen, she moved to the US as an exchange student, then entered Idyllwild Arts Academy. She earned degrees from the Juilliard School (BM), Mannes School of Music (MM), and University for Music and Performing Arts Vienna (Post Graduate Diploma). In 2013, she earned DMA candidacy from College-Conservatory of Music, Univeristy of Cincinnati. She has played in master classes with world-renowned pianists such as Mitsuko Uchida and Robert Levin. Her significant mentors include Eugene Pridonoff, Peter Efler, Victor Rosenbaum, Martin Canin, Tomoko Saka.
As a recitalist and a chamber musician, she has appeared in venues are such as Lincoln Center, Steinway Hall in New York, Bösendorfer Hall and Konzerthaus Wien in Austria. Along with her passion for performance, she is an active teacher at both collegiate and preparatory institutions. She was appointed as a teaching assistant to Professors Eugene and Elisabeth Pridonoff at University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), followed by an Adjunct Faculty of Piano at CCM, Wittenberg University. In 2017, she moved to Boston, served as a piano and chamber music faculty at New England Conservatory Preparatory School. She has been invited to give solo recitals, chamber music performances, master classes, and adjudicate auditions at Universities and festivals in the US, Singapore, and Japan.
