About
Chisato Kusunoki’s performances are highly regarded for their lyrical intensity and subtle virtuosity. Her performances are informed by an understanding of and affinity with such important composer-pianists as Rachmaninoff, Godowsky and Medtner. The Times remarked on her ‘wonderfully fleet and supple fingers, quick to locate the music’s inner voices, able to dapple and perfume…she’ll be heard from; she’s got it.’
Chisato was awarded an instrumental award to study Music at University College, Oxford University where she graduated with the prestigious Gibbs Prize in performance. Consequently she completed her postgraduate performance diploma with a distinction at the Royal Academy of Music. She studied with Nicholas Austin and Hamish Milne and has also worked with Dmitri Bashkirov, Alexander Satz, Rosalyn Tureck and Ronald Stevenson.
Chisato was a prizewinner at the Newport International Competition for Young Pianists, 2003. She has played in many important venues including the South Bank Centre London, Sumida Triphony Hall, Victoria Concert Hall, Wigmore Hall and frequently performs internationally. She is also an active chamber musician and has performed with the Allegri String Quartet, and her playing has featured in BBC Radio 3 program.
Her repertoire is extensive and ranges from the earliest keyboard masters to contemporary composers. She has an abiding love of the classics yet she also enjoys exploring less known works particularly by composers of the late romantic period. She has made a special study of the music of Nikolai Medtner, on whose music she worked closely with Hamish Milne. Chisato is committed to contemporary music and has worked closely with several leading composers such as Ronald Stevenson, David Hackbridge Johnson, Justin Connolly and Murad Kazhlaev. She is a dedicatee of some important works by them, and have made premiere performances and recordings. Her recordings are available on Quartz and Naxos labels.
Chisato is also an established teacher, and passionate about nurturing students of any levels. She established her private teaching practice in North London which gained popularity over the last 20 years. She is currently based in Brighton and is married with two sons.