MASANORI MURAKAMI

AGE 38  I  TOKYO, JAPAN  I  JAPAN
CLINICAL PROJECT MANAGER

Masanori Murakami has had three piano teachers in his life: the first taught him “the pleasure of music;” the second, technical prowess and repertoire building; and the third, artistry and the connection with the audience. He won first prize at the 2007 International Competition for Outstanding Amateurs in Paris, as well as in two Japanese competitions around the same time; he says he’s been waiting a long time—eight years—to be eligible for the Cliburn Amateur and is looking forward to making the audience happy with his music and to meeting new friends from around the world. An alumnus of the Ritsumeikan University Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Masanori has worked in research since 2009, developing various new medicines through clinical trials in the fields of orthopedics, respiratory, cancer pain, and cancer. He enjoys cooking, and drinking wine and Japanese sake, as well as listening to jazz music—he’s a big Bill Evans fan.

Repertoire

Preliminary Round

GODOWSKY Alt Wien
GINASTERA Danzas Argentinas, op. 2
SCRIABIN Etude in C-sharp Minor, op. 42, no. 5

Semifinal Round 

RAVEL Sonatine
LISZT Rhapsodie espagnole

Final Round 

PROKOFIEV Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major, op. 26 (III)