Chiharu AIZAWA, born in Hokkaido, Japan, started her piano study at early age. After winning number of domestic competitions and public performances, she debuted at age of 11 in Hokkaido. She received several prizes at young musician's competitions that led her to perform at the Citizen's Art Festival of Kitami, 2 years in a row.
Later on Ms. Aizawa entered Toho Gakuen college of music, Japan's prestigious music school in Tokyo, where she studied with professor Michiko Okamoto, who had been a pupil of Lily Kraus, and got her bachelor's degree in 1998.
During her school years, she was selected to play for many piano masters such as Klaus Helwig, Mikhail Voskresensky, Karl-Heinz Kammerling, Boris Bloch and Edith Picht-Axenfeld.
It was an important turning point for Ms. Aizawa in 1997, that she met a legendary russian pianist Lazar Berman who has been a great influence to her interpretation and the piano playing. Studying with him for many years enriched her performances with the true and traditional russian pianism and strikingly inspiring musical ideas.
She has appeared in many concerts and recitals in Austria, Slovakia, Lithuania, Italy, Germany and Japan, and has been in the finals and the semifinals in numerous international piano competitions.
The top prize winner of 'Val Tidone international music competitions' in 2001, the finalist and the recipient of 'Diploma distinzione' at the international piano competition 'Citta di Marsala 2002', Ms. Aizawa now living in florence, Italy, is extending her career with her true passion to the music.
