Kumi Matsuo is a versatile solo and collaborative pianist. She has won numerous competitions including
First Prize in the 6th Isidor Bajic Memorial Piano Competition in Serbia and First Prize in the 5th Louisiana
International Piano Competition, USA. She is a staff member of the Royal College of Music, working as
Duo Coach to the String Faculty, as well as accompanying other instruments.
She studied at the Toho Gakuen College of Music, Tokyo, and then at the Royal College of Music in
London, studying with John Blakely and Ashley Wass. She completed her studies there with the awards of
Master of Music (with Distinction) and Artist Diploma after which she was invited to be the Anthony
Saltmarsh Junior Fellow in Collaborative Piano. Her study was generously supported by Charles Napper
Award, the Russell Gander Award and the Rohm Music Foundation.
During her study in RCM, Kumi was twice the winner of the RCM concerto competition. She performed
Ravel’s Piano Concerto for Left Hand in Cadogan Hall with RCM Sinfonietta conducted by Peter Stark and
Prokofiev’s 3rd Piano Concerto with RCM Symphony Orchestra under Martin André at the Royal College
of Music. She also played Schnittke’s Concerto Grosso No.1 with RCM Chamber Orchestra under Vladimir
Jurowski at the Queen Elizabeth Hall.
As soloist and chamber musician Kumi has played extensively in the UK and abroad, performing at venues
including Carnegie Hall Weill Recital Hall, Wigmore Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Windsor Castle, Royal Albert
Hall (Elgar Room), Sadler’s Wells Theatre, Bridgewater Hall, St.Georges Bristol, Royal Baths Park in
Warsaw, Dubai Opera (Studio), Tokyo Opera City Hall, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan and Kioi Hall in Tokyo. She
performed as a soloist with orchestras such as Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, Galicia Symphony Orchestra,
Banatul Symphony Orchestra, Rapides Symphony Orchestra, Constanza Symphony Orchestra and
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra.
As well as pursuing her busy career as partner of many international instrumentalists and accompanying
and mentoring talented students at RCM, she has also found time to be an official accompanist of
Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition, Tunbridge Wells International Music Competition,
Keshet Eilon International String Mastercourse, New Virtuosi International Violin Mastercourse and
Musica Mundi International Chamber Music Course.