10 Asian Pianists You Should Know About

May is Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month! To celebrate, we’ve compiled a list of 10 Asian pianists we think more people should know about.

The world of classical music has been enriched by the contributions of numerous pianists of different ethnicities and cultural backgrounds.

In recent years, pianists from Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands have emerged as some of the most talented and accomplished musicians in the field.

These pianists bring a unique perspective to their performances, drawing on their rich cultural heritage and experiences to create stunning and innovative works.

While these artists are trained in the Western classical style of music, a number of these artists make it a point to include the musical traditions of their home countries in the music they play and compose.

Tanya Ekanayaka (b.1977)

Dr. Tanya Ekanayaka is a Sri Lankan-British classical pianist and composer known for her unique blend of Western classical music with traditional Sri Lankan elements.

Born and brought up in the Kandyan highlands of Sri Lanka, Ekanayaka began playing the piano at the age of four and later studied at the Royal College of Music in London and the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester..

Her compositions often incorporate traditional Sri Lankan rhythms, melodies, and instruments, such as the tabla and sitar, into a Western classical framework.

Ekanayaka’s music has been performed by many leading orchestras and ensembles, and she has won numerous awards and accolades for her work, including the Commonwealth Composer Prize in 2006.

Her compositions have been featured across numerous international media and have often been the first by a Sri Lankan composer to be performed at international venues.

In addition to her composing career, Ekanayaka is also a respected educator, serving as a professor of music at the University of Colombo and a visiting lecturer at the Royal Northern College of Music.

She is widely regarded as one of the most important voices in contemporary classical music from South Asia.

Lang Lang (b. 1982)

Lang Lang is a Chinese concert pianist born in Shenyang, China. He is one of the most famous pianists of his generation, known for his virtuosic technique and charismatic performances.

Lang Lang began playing the piano at the age of three and later studied at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing and the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia.

Lang Lang is notable for his contributions to classical music and his efforts to make classical music more accessible to audiences around the world.

He has performed with many of the world’s leading orchestras and conductors, and has recorded numerous albums that have won critical acclaim.

Lang Lang is also known for his philanthropic work, and has established his own foundation to support music education and young musicians. He has been a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) since 2004 and has been recognized for his contributions to music and culture with numerous awards and honors.

Lang Lang’s legacy as a pianist and cultural ambassador continues to inspire people of all ages and backgrounds.

HJ Lim (b. 1986)

HJ Lim, also known as Lim Hyo-jung, is a South Korean classical pianist. She’s gained international recognition for her performances of the works of Franz Liszt.

Born in South Korea, Lim began playing the piano at the age of three and gave her first public recital at age six. She later studied at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris and the Royal College of Music in London.

She gained widespread acclaim for her recordings of the complete piano works of Franz Liszt, which were released in 2012 to critical acclaim.

Lim’s playing is marked by its technical virtuosity, poetic expressiveness, and a sense of individuality that sets her apart from other pianists of her generation.

She has performed with many of the world’s leading orchestras and conductors, and has won numerous awards and honors, including the ECHO Klassik award in 2012.

In addition to her performing career, Lim is also an educator and a philanthropist, supporting various causes related to music and education.

Kun-Woo Paik (b.1946)

Kun-Woo Paik is a South Korean pianist. He is a renowned musician who has performed with many of the world’s leading orchestras and conductors.

Paik began playing the piano at the age of four and later studied at the Juilliard School in New York and the Hochschule für Musik in Munich.

Kun-Woo Paik has made significant contributions to classical music and has made huge efforts to promote cultural exchange and understanding through music.

He has recorded numerous albums that have won critical acclaim, and his performances are known for their technical skill, expressive playing, and passionate interpretations.

Paik has also been an advocate for cultural exchange and understanding, and has worked to promote classical music in South Korea and around the world. He has served as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Cultural Diplomacy and has established his own foundation to promote music education and cultural exchange.

Anil Srinivasan (b.1977)

Anil Srinivasan is an Indian classical pianist and educator who has been instrumental in popularizing the piano in India and promoting cross-cultural collaborations between Indian classical music and Western classical music.

Born in Chennai, Srinivasan began playing the piano at the age of three and later studied at the University of Southern California and the Royal College of Music in London.

What makes Anil Srinivasan most noteworthy is his pioneering work in bridging the gap between Indian classical music and Western classical music, using the piano as a vehicle for cross-cultural exchange.

He has collaborated with many leading Indian classical musicians, including the veena player Jayanthi Kumaresh and the violinist L. Subramaniam, as well as with Western classical musicians and ensembles, such as the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia and the violinist Joshua Bell.

Srinivasan has also been active in promoting music education in India, founding the Rhapsody Music Foundation, which provides music education to underprivileged children.

He has received numerous awards and honors for his work, including the Kalaimamani Award from the Government of Tamil Nadu in 2006.

Aki Takahashi (b.1944)

Aki Takahashi is a Japanese pianist known for her performances of contemporary Western classical music, particularly the works of avant-garde composers such as John Cage and Morton Feldman.

Born in Tokyo, Takahashi began playing the piano at the age of three and later studied at the Toho Gakuen School of Music.

She first gained international recognition for her recordings of John Cage’s piano music, which she began working on in the 1970s and which remain some of the most definitive interpretations of Cage’s work.

This ended up being a good marker for the rest of her career since Aki Takahashi has maintained a deep commitment to contemporary music. She has a distinct willingness to take on some of the most challenging and unconventional works of the 20th century particularly.

Takahashi’s playing is characterized by its technical precision, emotional intensity, and a sense of adventurousness that reflects her commitment to pushing the boundaries of what is possible on the piano.

She has worked closely with many leading composers and has premiered numerous works written specifically for her.

In addition to her performing career, Takahashi is also an educator and has taught at several prestigious institutions, including the Toho Gakuen School of Music and the Hochschule für Musik in Frankfurt.

Mahani Teave (b.1985)

Mahani Teave is a Rapa Nui pianist born on Easter Island. She is known for her passion for music and her unique cultural background, as the only professional classical pianist to have been born and raised on Easter Island.

Mahani Teave began playing the piano at the age of six and later studied at the Conservatory of Music in Valparaiso and the Hochschule für Musik in Freiburg, Germany.

She is a first-prize winner of the Claudio Arrau International Piano Competition, the Ciudad de Palmayola International Piano Competition in Mallorca, Spain, and the 2004 Cleveland Institute of Music Concerto Competition.

She has also performed with many of the world’s leading orchestras and conductors and has recorded numerous albums that have won critical acclaim.

Mahani Teave regularly incorporates elements of traditional Rapa Nui music into her performances. In terms of musicians repping Easter Island and advocating for the preservation of its culture and traditions, she definitely makes the top of the list. 

In fact, she established her own foundation to support music education and cultural exchange on the island. This became Easter Island’s first Music School, which today provides 70+ children the opportunity to study piano, cello, violin, and ukulele — without having to leave their island!

Mitsuko Uchida (b.1948)

Yuja Wang (b.1987)

Zhu Xiao-Mei (b.1949)