Classical musician
Specialisation: Keyboard instrumentsTAKAHIKO SAKAMAKI
Born in Japan. Currently residing in Germany.
Received piano lessons from his aunt since the age of 5. Graduated from the Bachelor’s Program in Music at Toho-Gakuen College of Music in Japan. Subsequently, he moved to Germany and completed the Master’s programs in both Piano Solo and Fortepiano at the University of Music and Dance Cologne with the highest unanimous score from the examination committee.
He has actively performed in concert activities in Germany, as well as in Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, and other countries, performing at music festivals and concert series. In recent years, their focus has been on performing with historical instruments such as the harpsichord, clavichord, and fortepiano, exploring new playing techniques and interpretations. In addition to their performing career, he has been actively involved in educating the next generation, teaching piano at the Heinsberg Music School in North Rhine-Westphalia and serving as a correpetion tutor in the Historical Instruments Department at the University of Music and Dance Cologne.
Furthermore he has received the Clavichord Scholarship from the Pianomuseum Haus Eller.
Study under
Period Instrments
Prof. Gerald Hambitzer, Prof. Michael Borgstede, Prof. Flóra Júlia Fábri, Mr. Andreas StaierPiano
Prof. Andreas Frölich, Prof. Börn Lehmann, Mr. Masataka Takada, Prof. Yoshimi Tamaki, Mr. Toru Kimura, Ms. Eiko MoriyaEducation
2019 – 2022
Cologne University of Music and Dance Master of Music/ Historical Instruments (Fortepiano)
2017 – 2020
Cologne University of Music and Dance Master of Music/ Piano solo (final grade: 1.0 best grade)
2014 – 2016
Toho-Gakuen College of Music, Tokyo Research Course / Piano solo
2010 – 2014
Toho-Gakuen College of Music, Tokyo Degree: Bachelor of Music / Piano solo (final grade: A very good)
2007 – 2010
TOHO-GAKUEN Music High School, Tokyo
Prizes
-
2021
3rd prize at “Karlrobert Kreiten Piano Competition 2021” (Germany) 2nd prize and the Beethovenhaus prize for the best interpretation of Beethoven’s works at the international chamber music competition “Beethoven in seiner Zeit” in SIegburg (Germany) -
2019
1st prize at “12th Medenus Piano Festival 2019” (Germany) -
2018
3rd prize at “International Piano Competition Ciudad de Leganés (Spain)” -
2017
2nd prize at “III. International Music Competition Triomphe de l’Art piano solo 3rd age group (Belgium)” 3rd prize at “36th Delia Steinberg International Piano Competition (Spain)” -
2017
3rd prize at “Concorso Pianistico Internazionale Vietri sul Mare – Costa Amalfitana Categoria E (Italy)” -
2015
1. Preis bei “1st Tokyo International Piano Competition (TIAA) department adult division (Japan)”
Educator
2022 –
Teaching assignment Correpetition Fortepiano at the University of Music and Dance Cologne
2021 –
Piano teacher at the Jugendmusikschule Heinsberg e.V.
2020 – 2021
Piano teacher at the Musikschule Brand in Aachen
2019 – 2023
Piano teacher at the MuR 128 in Köln
2014 – 2016
Music tutor at the “Tsubasa” kindergarten for 3 to 6-year-olds in Kanagawa, Japan.
2014 – 2016
Solfeggio teacher at the music school of Toho Gakuen College of Music in Kanagawa, Japan.
Master classes as a teacher
02. 2022
Guest teacher of the piano master class for young students (Fukuoka, Ooita/ Japan)
08. 2019
Guest teacher of the piano master class for young students (Fukuoka, Ooita/ Japan)
03. 2019
Guest teacher of the piano master class for young students (Fukuoka, Ooita/ Japan)
08. 2018
Guest teacher of the piano master class for young students (Fukuoka, Ooita/ Japan)
03. 2018
Guest teacher of the piano master class for young students (Fukuoka, Ooita/ Japan)
08. 2017
Guest teacher of the piano master class for young students (Fukuoka, Ooita/ Japan)
03. 2017
Guest teacher of the piano master class for young students (Fukuoka, Ooita/ Japan)
08. 2016
Guest teacher of the piano master class for young students (Fukuoka, Ooita/ Japan)
Jury activities
2021
9th Kyushu-Shimbun- Piano Competition (Fukuoka/ Japan)
2020
Japanese Beethoven Piano Competition 2020 (Japan)
2019
7.Kyushu-Shimbun- Piano Competition (Fukuoka/Japan)
Ensemble
Trio Alterna
Anna Dmitrieva, Baroque Violin
Amarilis Dueñas Castán, Baroque Cello
Takahiko Sakamaki, Keyboard instruments
The Trio Alterna showed great expressiveness in a variety of very different pieces. They got better and better from round to round and surprised the listener with continually dif- ferent, but always marvelous highlights. Their interpretation of the second movement of Beethoven’s “Ghost” Trio is certainly some of the most wonderful music that has been heard in the entire competition.
(Siegburg Music Workshop)
The Cologne-based Trio Alterna received the impetus for its founding at the Beethoven in his Time International Chamber Music Competition, where it won second prize and the special prize for the best interpretation of a work by Ludwig van Beethoven. The members of the Trio convinced the jury above all with their “great musicality in all of their performances.” All three musicians have extensive experience, both as solo and chamber musicians, with modern composers as well as in the field of early music. The Trio’s repertoire ranges from early classical to world premieres of contemporary music, and has received inspiration for its interpre- tations from Gerald Hambitzer, among others.