Finalist: Ryo Yanagitani

Ryo Yanagitani has distinguished himself as one of Canada's most promising young concert artists. He recently garnered the silver medal at the Dr. Luis Sigall International Piano Competition in Vina del Mar, Chile, where he was also awarded the audience prize. In addition, he is a laureate of the Hilton Head International Piano Competition and the Minnesota International Piano-e-Competition, and was named performer of special promise in the Honens International Piano Competition.

Currently working towards the Doctor of Musical Arts Degree at the Yale School of Music under Boris Berman, Ryo has obtained a Bachelor Degree in Piano Performance from the University of British Columbia under Doctor Henri-Paul Sicsic, and an Artist Diploma from the Cleveland Institute under Sergei Babayan.

Ryo has made concerto appearances with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, the Montreal Metropolitan Orchestra, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, Hartford Symphony Orchestra, and the Moroccan Symphony Orchestra, among others. In addition to many solo recitals, he has been in demand as a chamber musician, performing in a wide range of settings, from the duo sonata repertoire to large ensembles. His most recent collaboration with eminent flutist Ransom Wilson has taken him to Moscow for performances of Canadian and American music.

A recipient of many scholarships and awards, Ryo has been endowed twice by the Canadian Arts Council with a grant as an Emerging Artist. He is also a recipient of the Arthur Foote Scholarship from the Harvard Musical Association. Ryo has been broadcasted on numerous occasions over National Radio in Canada.