"France's Chartres International Organ Competition,
probably the world's most prestigious"
(Dallas Morning News)
Saki Aoki
Grand Prix d'Interprétation
Chartres Competition 2008
Saki Aoki was born in Tokyo in 1982. She began piano studies at the age of six, and then chose to dedicate herself to the organ. She first studied under Keiko Utsumi, and then after passing the entrance examination to Geidai (Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music) she became a pupil of Masaaki Suzuki and obtained her undergraduate diploma with top honors after four years of study. She was accepted into the graduate school (advanced performance studies) in 2005 and received her Master of Music degree with top honors and congratulations from Geidai.
While still a graduate student, Ms. Aoki decided to broaden and diversify her studies in France. For two years she studied in the Advanced Studies Program under Eric Lebrun at the St. Maur Conservatory where she obtained the « André Monsaingeon » Prize and the J.S. Bach prize for the best interpretation of a J.S. Bach work, as well as the 1st Prize in Organ with top honors in 2006.
She further enriched her studies as a pupil of Erwan Le Prado at the Conservatoire National de Région in Caen where she obtained the Advanced Studies Diploma with top honors. It was during her advanced studies that she was able to distinguish herself in several international competitions, notably by winning the « Diplôme d’Honneur » of the International Organ Competition in Bruges, 1st Prize of the Grenada International Competition, 1st Prize in the Jean Louis Florentz Competition in Angers in May 2007, 2nd Prize at the Nürnberg International Competition in June 2007, and at the International Organ Competition Grand Prix of Chartres in September 2008, Ms. Aoki won « Grand Prix de Chartres » in interpretation, the Audience Award and the Gaston Litaize Special Prize.
Ms. Aoki has already given numerous recitals in Japan, France, Germany and Spain. She has been invited to perform in Art Tower Mito in Ibaragi, Minato Mirai in Yokohama, Casals Hall in Tokyo, Saint-Antoine des Quinze-vingts Church in Paris, Coutances Cathedral, Orléans Cathedral, Saint-Pierre de Caen Church, Saint John’s Basilica in Saarbrücken, Münster Cathedral in Ulm, St. Jacobi in Hannover (Germany), Saint Salvador Church in Grenada (Spain) among others