Press release

A JOINT piano RECITAL BY jAPANESE AMBASSADOR HIROSHI OE
AND two japanese pianists mr. shoichi hase and ms. moeko ezaki

Islamabad: 10th May 2012

The Embassy of Japan in collaboration with the Turkish Embassy organized a joint piano recital on 10th May 2012 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between Japan and Pakistan.

Two well-known visiting Japanese pianists, Mr. Shoichi Hase & Ms. Moeko Ezaki, together with the Japanese Ambassador Hiroshi Oe mesmerized the audience with the sweet sound of piano tunes played by them. The function was held in the auditorium of the Turkish Embassy and attended by a houseful of music lovers.

The pianists won great applause by the audience for their delightful fusion of Pakistani classical compositions and Japanese music. The recital of famous Pakistani composition “Sun Wanghli di Meethari Taan” (Listening to the sweet melody on the flute) on the melodious tunes of piano truly moved the audience.

Brief Profile of the Pianists:

Shoichi Hase graduated from Toho Gakuen College Music Department. He continued his studies at Musikhochschule Lubeck and Hochschule fur Musik Rostock in Germany. He is one of the few pupils of Bruno-Leonardo Gelber. He has given numerous recitals and ensemble concerts in Japan, and many countries around the world including Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Poland. He is a member of jury at many international and domestic competitions including International Chopin Competition in Asia, International Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs in Paris, and Student Music Concours of Japan.

Moeko Ezaki graduated from Toho Gakuen Music High School and is a very talented young pianist who won the third prize in Japan Classical Music Competition in 2010 and the first prize in Toho Gakuen School of Music Competition in 2011. She was also one of the top 4 finalists in last year’s Music Competition of Japan.

Hiroshi Oe started to play the piano at the age of 5, and after a long interval of not playing for more than 30 years, resumed taking lessons again from 2006. He won 2 Gold medals and 2 Silver medals in the Amateur solo and concerto sectors of 2011 International Chopin Competition in Asia. He has played with the Prima Vista Quartet from Poland as well as the Silesia Philharmonic Orchestra during their visits to Japan. He also did a fundraiser concert at the University of Tokyo in 2011 after the earthquake and tsunami. (End)