Biography
Kentaro Nagai, born in 1986, is a Japanese pianist. He graduated from the Royal College of Music after completing Artist Diploma Programme and Masters & Bachelors Degrees with Distinction under the tutelage of Professor Gordon Fergus-Thompson and Professor John Blakely. During his studies, he was kindly supported by scholarship, Irene Hanson Memorial Award. He also benefited from further studies with Josep Colom at Liceu Conservatorio in Barcelona, Spain.
His musical training began at the age of four with an influence by his mother who is a professional Opera Singer and a Lieder Singer. He made his concerto debut at the age of eight in Japan. Then at the age of 14, he moved to Canada where he received several music awards and scholarships including the Canmore Mayor’s Award for the Honourable Citizen. He has given numerous performances in Japan, Canada and Europe at such venues as the Banff Centre in Canada, Royal Albert Hall’s Elgar Room, Cadogan Hall, Steinway Hall, St. Paul's Cathedral, St. Martins in the Field, St. James Piccadilly and the National Gallery in London, and Auditori . He also appeared as a concerto soloist including the performances with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra. As a very keen chamber musician and a vocal accompanist, Kentaro also won the Geoffrey Parson Memorial Trust Award for his dedications to Piano Accompaniment.
Kentaro was also a founder and an organiser of Charity Concert Series called ‘KIBOU’ through which Kentaro and his fellow musicians fundraised for the aid of the victims affected by the national catastrophe on 11th March, 2011 in Japan.
Kentaro is also an enthusiastic pedagogue and truly enjoys sharing his passion for music with his students and young musicians. His musical skills and international experience both as an educator and a performer are greatly appreciated by the students. He has previously taught in the music department at Chelsea Academy, London and M.int Academy in Hong Kong where he was a senior piano instructor and a head of auxiliary musical training programme.