Cliburn 2009: May 22 - June 7
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closeWednesday, May. 06, 2009
Cliburn confidential: Nobuyuki Tsujii
Nobuyuki Tsujii
(pronounced noh-BOU-you-kee s’jee-EE)
Nationality: Japanese
Born: Tokyo
Lives: Tokyo
Age: 20
In a recent interview, Tsjuii’s father, Tokyo physician Dr. Takashi Tsujii translated: As a blind pianist (the only one in the Cliburn’s history), how does Nobuyuki learn new pieces? Does his impairment limit him as a musician? There are no barriers in music, Nobuyuki says. He does not use a score to learn new music. His teacher records new pieces very slowly, and he learns the pieces by ear. Then Nobuyuki understands and memorizes the piece and he works on it with his teacher.
How did he choose the piano? When did he begin to play? He began to play both violin and piano at the age of 4. Blind since birth "he liked sounds and music," his father said. He focused on the piano at age 7 because he liked the sound and tone of the piano.
When did Nobuyuki realize he might have special talent? At age 7, he won a competition of all of Japan’s blind piano students. Four years later he won another major competition for all young pianists in Japan. Since then, he has performed with the Tokyo Symphony and made his Carnegie Hall debut.
Nobuyuki auditioned for the Cliburn in Fort Worth. What were his impressions of Texas? "He likes cowboys," his father said. "Many people in Texas were very kind. And Texas is very wide."
What are his hopes for the Cliburn? He wants American people to listen to his music. And he wants to participate in the Olympics, not the Paralympics. He wants to compete at the highest level, not just the highest level for the blind.
Learn more and hear him play: www.nobupiano1988.com/english/index.html
— Tim Madigan
Bass Hall
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