Tomoki SAKATA (2009 Yasuko Fukuda Prize, 17) and Fuyuko NAKAMURA (2009 Prize of Excellence, 18) appeared at the Musical Kremlin Festival on April 13th in Moscow & 14th in Bryansk. They were invited by Prof.Nikolai Petrov, who attended the Yasuko Fukuda Scholarship Audition as a jury member in 2009. (report in Japanese)

Mr.Sakata played all Liszt program, starting with Polonaise no.1 and no.2 showing his refined rhythmic sense and dynamism, followed by gentle "Sonetto 123 del Petrarca" from Années de pèlerinage Deuxième année 'Italie'. He concluded the program with "Réminiscences de Norma" with passion and strong narrative force. 
Ms.Nakamura built up her program with Bach=Rachmaninov, Mozart, Schubert and Mendelssohn. Among them, Schubert's Klavierstücke D 946-2 was depicted with full of her sensitivity, and especially her elegance and purity were projected in Mendelssohn's 3 etudes and Scottish Sonata.

Two young Japanese talents were enthusiastically accepted by the audience in both cities. In Moscow, they also talked in the interview program of the TV channel 'Culture'. In Bryansk, the concert hall was filled with 800 people of all the generations, who gave them  applause and standing ovation. Two teenage pianists were very much impressed by the kindness of the professor Petrov and staff members, warm atmosphere of the audience, and the landscape of Russia.  

On the other hands, in Paris, Tomohiro SATO (2009 diploma at 2009 Yasuko Fukuda Audition, 18) attended a piano study course held from March 20th-26th. This course was led by Prof.Haruhi HATA (organizer, a lecturer of Tokyo University of fine arts and music), Prof.Henri Barda, and Prof.Eric Vidonne (*on behalf of Prof.Anne Queffélec).

After taking intensive lessons from three professors in five days, Mr.Sato showed great development, and played Schubert's Wanderer Fantasy with well-balanced combination of sensitivity and strength at the final concert. (report in Japanese) 

'Yasuko Fukuda Scholarship' is supporting young pianists of outstanding talent. The scholarship audition is taken place every two years to discover and encourage youngsters under 17. This year the document screening was held in March and nine candidates were chosen out of 32 applicants. The final round will be held from August 23rd-26th. It consists of two parts; to take lessons from three international jury and to play at the final concert. The scholarship of 1 million yen is given to the winner of 'Yasuko Fukuda Prize', which should exclusively be used for educational purpose.

Besides this scholarship audition, 'Yasuko Fukuda Foundation' is also supporting other winners (including winners of grade superior and grade G of PTNA Piano Competition) to study abroad / taking lessons of oversea renowned professors around the year. In 2010, the grants were given to some participants of concerts / music festivals in NY, Hawaii, Canada, Korea, Poland, and those of the lessons by Prof.Jacques Rouvier, Prof.Paul Badura Skoda, Prof.Michel Beroff, Prof.Choong-Mo Kang, Prof.Peter Rösel etc. 

-Further international careers of past winners of Yasuko Fukuda Prize

-The destinations and total amount of the scholarship 2003-2011

-Contributors of Yasuko Fukuda Scholarship
 *Contribution is always greatly appreciated (from 10,000yen)