Tea & Live Piano Pairing at Murasaki

New to this year is award winning pianist and Tokyo University of the Arts educator Motohiro Sato, who together with Uyo will create a pairing that may be a first for Finland. Held at one of our favorites intimate spaces in Helsinki – Murasaki – Motohiro and Uyo carefully selected five classical pieces and tea that reference, represent and enhance each other, a chance to listen to your tea in a whole new way.

We’re incredibly honored that the incredibly accomplished Motohiro Sato will be sharing his craft with us. He won Second Prize at the 12th Tokyo Music Competition, Fourth Prize at the 7th Sendai International Music Competition, and a Silver Medal at the 3rd Berlin International Music Competition, among numerous other awards. He has appeared in recitals both in Japan and abroad, and as a soloist has performed with orchestras such as the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, and Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra.

After graduating from Tokyo University of the Arts, he continued his studies at the Berlin University of the Arts under Professor Björn Lehmann and is currently enrolled in the German national soloist diploma (Konzertexamen) program. From 2025, he has been serving as a part-time lecturer in the Piano Department of the Faculty of Music at Tokyo University of the Arts.

The program includes the following pieces:

• J. S. Bach (arr. M. Hess): Chorale “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” from Cantata “In Heart, in Mouth, in Deed, in Life” BWV 147
• F. Chopin: Waltz No. 1 in E-flat major, Op. 18 “Grande Valse Brillante”
• Tchaikovsky: January “By the Fireside” from “The Four Seasons”
• Sibelius: “The Fir Tree” from Five Pieces (Arboretum Suite), Op. 75-5
• Janaček: Piano Sonata “On the Street Corner of October 1, 1905”
• C. Debussy: Suite Bergamasque, No. 3 “Clair de Lune”

There will be two sessions in the afternoon: 14 – 15:15 & 16 – 17:15

To make this event accessible to everyone, this event is donation based, with a suggested donation 15e. Please RSVP for your suitable time slot. 

ABOUT MOTOHIRO SATO

Born in 1993 in Kakegawa City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.

From an early age, he achieved numerous top prizes in major domestic competitions, including the PTNA Piano Competition, the All Japan Student Music Competition, the Chopin International Piano Competition in Asia, and the Osaka International Music Competition. He appeared on TV Asahi’s famous program “Untitled Concert” (Daimyo no Nai Ongakukai) as a student of the late Hiroko Nakamura.

In 2013, he was selected as a finalist in the Piano Division of the 11th Tokyo Music Competition, and in 2014 he won Second Prize at the 12th edition of the same competition. In 2017, he was awarded Third Prize at the Artur Schnabel Piano Competition in Berlin, Germany. At the 7th Sendai International Music Competition (Piano Division) held in June 2019, he won Fourth Prize, the highest ranking among Japanese pianists in that edition. In the same year, he received the Silver Medal at the 3rd Berlin International Music Competition.

In 2024, he became a finalist and received a diploma at the 25th Venezia–Friuli Giulia International Piano Competition (Italy), and won First Prize in Category G (“Premio Giovani Pianisti”) at the 8th Acquaviva delle Fonti International Piano Competition (Italy).

He has also participated in numerous prestigious international competitions, including the 63rd ARD International Music Competition in Munich, the 7th, 9th, and 12th Hamamatsu International Piano Competitions, the 17th International Chopin Piano Competition (Warsaw preliminaries), the 11th and 12th Paderewski International Piano Competitions, the 76th Geneva International Music Competition, and the 5th Takamatsu International Piano Competition.

He has given numerous solo recitals and chamber music performances throughout Japan and abroad, including appearances in Seoul, Warsaw, Paris, Vienna, and Berlin. As a soloist, he has performed with many orchestras, including the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra, Geidai Philharmonia Orchestra, and the Hamamatsu Symphony Orchestra.

His principal teachers include Yoshie Mizuno, Jun Hasegawa, and Masahito Shimizu. After graduating from the Music High School attached to the Faculty of Music, Tokyo University of the Arts, he completed his undergraduate studies at Tokyo University of the Arts. During his studies, he studied with prof. Kei Itoh. Upon graduation, he received the Acanthus Music Award, the Geidai Klavier Prize, and the Doseikai Prize.

Since 2016, he has continued his studies at the Berlin University of the Arts under Professor Björn Lehmann. He earned two master’s degrees in piano performance, specializing in solo performance and chamber music, and is currently enrolled in the German Konzertexamen (national soloist diploma) program.

Deeply committed to cultural activities in his hometown of Kakegawa City, he was appointed “Kagayaku Kakegawa Support Ambassador” by the city in August 2017. In addition, he served as Artistic Director of the music project for the regional arts festival “Kakegawa Cha-Enniale 2024” organized by Kakegawa City.

From 2025, he has been serving as a part-time lecturer in the Piano Department at the Faculty of Music, Tokyo University of the Arts, where he is also engaged in teaching the next generation of musicians.