Japanese-American pianist Ayane Nakajima has garnered recognition for her “emotional warmth and celestial lyricism” (Elena Vorotko, Keyboard Charitable Trust) as a soloist and chamber musician. Active across the United States, United Kingdom, and Europe, she has appeared in major venues such as Wigmore Hall, Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, New World Center, and both Steinway Hall New York and London. She will make her German recital debut in the 2025/26 season with performances in Bayreuth and Fulda.
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She is a celebrated prize winner of the Pianale, YoungArts, International Keyboard Odyssiad, and Young Texas Artists competitions, and is a member of Talent Unlimited and the Keyboard Charitable Trust. Among numerous accolades, she was nominated as a 2019 U.S. Presidential Scholar, awarded the 2023 Louis Sudler Prize in the Arts from Rice University, and named the winner of the 2024 Royal College of Music Concerto Competition. Additionally, she has participated in masterclasses with renowned artists such as Jeremy Denk, Dina Yoffe, Akiko Ebi, Uta Weyand, Ronan O'Hora, Caroline Hong, Elena Levit, and Marina Lomazov. ​​
A devoted song pianist and chamber musician, she has won the top prize at the Young Musicians’ Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center competition, as well as the pianist prizes at the AESS Patricia Routledge National English Song Competition and the RCM Brooks Van der Pump English Song Competition. She has received coachings from Malcolm Martineau, Radu Bildar, Simon Lepper, Audrey Hyland, Kathleen Winkler, and Desmond Hoebig.
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. She received her Bachelor of Music from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music in Houston, Texas, under Dr. Jon Kimura Parker.
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. Passionate about connecting with new and diverse audiences, she is dedicated to creating poetic and engaging musical experiences. Through her artistry, she strives to bring people together, currating a meaningful and colorful musical experience.