(born 1962) is a Japanese classical pianist, based in London.
Biography Born in Kawasaki, Ogawa studied at the Tokyo College of Music (1977–1980) and the Juilliard School in New York (1981–1985), and later with Benjamin Kaplan.Kennedy M, ed. "Ogawa, Noriko" in The Oxford Dictionary of Music, 2nd edn rev., Oxford University Press (accessed 9 December 2008)
Career After coming in second in a Japanese music competition in 1984, Ogawa attained third prize in the 1987 Leeds International Piano Competition, which launched her international performing career.Leeds International Pianoforte Competition: Previous Finalists (accessed 9 December 2008) Her New York début came in 1982, and her London début in 1988.
Since 1997 Ogawa has been an exclusive recording artist for BIS Records.Guildhall School of Music & Drama: Department of Keyboard Studies (accessed 20 January 2014) She has collaborated in a piano duo with British pianist Kathryn Stott since 2001,Noriko Ogawa: Pianist: Biography (accessed 9 December 2008) and the two women have recorded works by Delius for BIS Records.BIS Records: Delius – Arrangements for piano 4 hands by Peter Warlock (accessed 9 December 2008) In 2003, they gave the first performance of Graham Fitkin's Circuit.Ward D. High hopes for concerto premiere. Guardian (19 March 2003) (accessed 9 December 2008) She also has a longstanding collaboration with clarinetist Michael Collins.
Ogawa is noted for recording the piano concertos of Alexander Tcherepnin with conductor Lan Shui and the Singapore Symphony Orchestra.
Ogawa worked closely with Japanese composer Tōru Takemitsu, and appeared as an advocate for his music on the BBC World News classical music programme, Visionaries, in September 2008.BBC World News: Visionaries (accessed 9 December 2008)
In 2011 she concluded a complete series of Debussy recordings and a new Mozart disc for BIS Records. Her Debussy discs have won the Editor's Choice of Gramophone Magazine, as well as Takemitsu recording.Noriko Ogawa: Pianist: Full Biography (accessed 20 January 2014)
Ogawa regularly commissions new works and has performed premieres of works by composers of contemporary classical music, such as Yoshihiro Kanno or Dai Fujikura.Noriko Ogawa: Pianist: Short Biography (accessed 20 January 2014)
Ogawa teaches at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (Professor of Piano) in London,Guildhall School of Music & Drama: Department of Keyboard Studies (accessed 10 December 2008) and at the Tokyo College of Music (visiting Professor) in Tokyo. Tokyo College of Music: Faculty (accessed 18 January 2011)
Humanitarian work Ogawa has been involved in fundraising for relief and rebuilding efforts following the March 2011 Japanese earthquake.
She serves as a Cultural Ambassador for the National Autistic Society, performing concerts for the parents of autistic children.As discussed during Ogawa's appearance on BBC Radio 3's In Tune program on World Autism Awareness Day (2 April 2015) She calls this concert series "Jamie's concerts", after the severely autistic son of two musician friends with whom she lived in London and whom she supported as they learned to diagnose and then cope with the disorder, saying: "I am not a doctor, I'm not a nurse, I'm not a teacher for someone with special needs, but I am a musician. What I realised is that I can do something – I can play concerts that give people like Jamie's parents a break and an opportunity to meet other people who care for autistic children".
References
External links Official home page