Yoko Nakamura was born in Kamakura, Japan in 1985 and started to learn the piano at an early age. In 1998, she was invited to perform at International Music Day Memorial Festival in Tokyo promoted by the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs. Between 2000 and 2003, Yoko studied at Tokyo College of Music Senior High School, and performed at the Tokyo Opera City Recital Hall during this period.
Yoko has been successful in many national and international competitions. These include the top prize at Kawai Music Competition in Japan (1998), the special award at Takasaki International Competition in Japan (2001), the first prize at Nisshin International Competition in Tokyo (2002), the first prize of Piano Premier Challenge Cup at North London Festival (2005). She was a finalist in the Royal College of Music Concerto Competition 2007 performing the Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1.
Yoko has performed at various venues include recent concerts at Hinde Street Church in Marylebone, Chapel in the Royal Marsden Hospital in Chelsea, Chappell of Bond Street Piano Hall (represented the RCM in Conservatoire Concert Series organized by YAMAHA London), St Michael’s Church in Chester Square, Claremont Centre in Islington, St Mary Abbots Church in Kensington, the Finchcocks Music Museum in Kent and at the Harlequin Theatre in Surrey.
Future concerts include recitals at Steinway Hall in London, Victoria & Albert Museum in Kensington, National Gallery at Trafalgar Square, and Kirara Koshigoe Hall in Japan. She has studied piano with Izumi Furukawa, Teruji Karashima, Ko Koshimura, Niel Immelman, piano accompaniment with Nigel Clayton, improvisation with David Graham.
Yoko is currently in her fourth year (Bachelor of Music degree with Honours) at the Royal College of Music in London, studying piano with Kevin Kenner.