Yasuko Fukuda Scholarship Audition was held on August 25th-28th in Tokyo, and Mr.Sakata Tomoki (15) won the Yasuko Fukuda prize, followed by Ms.Fuyuko Nakamura, the prize of excellence. Another three candidates, Ms.Yurika Kimura, Ms.Natsumi Kuboyama and Ms.Akane Ikuma took the third position, the prize of encouragement.(photo: Tomoki Sakata, Fuyuko Nakamura)  

This audition was established for encouraging talented young pianists under 18 to study abroad. Mr.Shohei Sekimoto (4th in Chopin Int'l Competition 2005) and Mr.Hibiki Tamura (1st in Long-Thibaud Int'l Competition 2007) are the former prize winners. It consists of lesson auditions and stage performance. This year, nine candidates took the lessons by each of the following oversea professors, Prof.Nikolai A.Petrov, Prof.Dina Yoffe, and Prof.Joaquin Soriano. After the final performances on 28th, they casted votes to decide the final result.

Mr.Tomoki Sakata, the recipient of Yasuko Fukuda Prize (1 million yen), had already received prizes in several domestic competitions including PTNA Piano Competition (silver prize in G grade, 2008). He is expected to extend his studying opportunity abroad. *See video (recorded in Feb.2009)