Nariaki Sugiura
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Professor, Piano, Joyce and Aqueil Ahmad Endowed Scholar, Music
- Piano / Collaborative Piano / Chamber Music
Contact Info
- Email: nariaki.sugiura@UND.edu
- Office: 701.777.2839
- Dept: 701.777.2644
Office Address
Hughes Fine Arts Center Room 204
3350 Campus Road Stop 7125
Grand Forks, ND 58202-7125
Biography
Music critics have raved about Nariaki Sugiura’s performances in Europe with such accolades as “the most sensitive touch on the piano,” and “possessing the rigueur, passion, and discipline of an old Samurai.” International concert artist Nariaki Sugiura has performed solo recitals and concerto engagements in the U.S., Europe, South America, and Asia at some of the most prestigious concert halls including Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Symphony Hall at Shenzhen Concert Hall (China), Ferenc Liszt Music Academy Recital Hall (Hungary), Daejeon Arts and Cultural Center Hall (South Korea), Manoel Theater (Malta), Kioi Hall (Japan), and Museo de Arte (Puerto Rico). He has appeared as soloist with the Greater Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra, Bismarck-Mandan Symphony Orchestra, UND Chamber Orchestra, and many others. His arrangements for chamber ensembles and piano ensembles have been frequently performed, and he has also conducted his ensemble arrangements.
A devoted teacher as well as performer, Dr. Sugiura has become of the leading piano pedagogues of his generation. He has given piano master classes at numerous institutions such as Civico Instituto Musicale “V. Baravalle” (Italy), Gheorghe Dima Music Academy (Romania), Staatliche Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Mannheim (Germany), Xinghai Conservatory of Music (China), National Kaohsiung Normal University (Taiwan), Ewha Women's University and Sunhwa Arts High School (South Korea), Universitas Pelita Harapan (Indonesia), St. Paul’s College (Hong Kong), University of Antioquia (Colombia), University of Minnesota, and many other music institutions around the world. Currently he is Associate Professor of Piano and Collaborative Piano at University of North Dakota while also holding visiting faculty position at East China Normal University in Shanghai. His students have received prizes and scholarships from local, regional, and national music competitions. Previously, he has taught at DePauw University, Indiana University, and Lamont Summer Pre-College Music Academy in Denver, and Guangdon University of Foreign Study in China. While he was at Indiana University, he worked for legendary cellist Janos Starker as a studio pianist. He has been an adjudicator for many national and international piano competitions in the US and Asia.
Sugiura has recorded eight CD albums for such labels as Klavier Records, Eroica Classical Recordings, T. K. Music Productions and Indiana University Latin American Music Center. His performances have been featured on television and radio, broadcast nationally and internationally. Active as an editor, his editions of chamber music scores are published by Ludwig Masters Music Publications.
A native of Japan, Nariaki Sugiura began piano studies with his mother at age five. Under the tutelage of Michel Block and Shigeo Neriki, he received his Masters and Doctor of Music in Piano Performance degrees from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Other prominent teachers include Alicia de Larrocha, Friedrich Schurr, Naomi Ebihara and Leonard Hokanson. He has won prizes at numerous competitions, including the 1999 and 2000 Indianapolis Matinee Musicale Competition Top Prizes. He was laureate of the 1993 National Music Competition in Tokyo and of the Annual Competition of Music from Spain and Latin America in 1999.
Piano Music for Left Hand by Living American Composers
Chamber Music (performing new music and making arrangments)
Piano Ensemble (creating and performing arrangments for unique format such as 6-hands and 8-hands etc.)
Publications – Sound Recordings
2024 Introspections: Works for Cello & Piano. Simona Barbu, cello. Centaur Records - Baton Rouge, LA (CRC4094).
2020 Duality: Works for Tenor Saxophone & Piano. Scott Sandberg, tenor saxophone. Albany Records – Albany, NY (TROY1807).
2012 Vol. 2 – Piano de Pampa y Jungla - A Collection of Latin American Piano Music Indiana University Latin American Music Center.
2010 Piano Album - Live Recording. T. K. Music Productions.
2010 Cello Album – Love Songs. Yeon-Ji Yun, cello. T. K. Music Productions.
2008 Eleventh Annual Competition in the Performance of Music from Spain and Latin America. Yeon-Ji Yun, cello. Indiana University Latin American Music
Center.
2007 Virtuoso Cello Encore.Joseph Kaizer, cello. Eroica Classical Recordings. (3374)
2006 Esencia-cello in the Panpas & the Caribbean, Emilio Colón, cello. Klavier Music Productions (K11143)
2003 Piano Solo Album. Nariaki Sugiura, piano. T. K. Music Productions.
2001 Canticum Novum: Sacred Vocal Music from the Late 20th CenturyAguavá New Music Ensemble, Carmen Téllez, conductor. Aguavá New Music Studio.
1999 Second Annual Competition in the Performance of Music from Spain and Latin America. Indiana University Latin American Music Center.
Publications – Video Recordings
2021 Bruce Stark: Nocturne for Left Hand Piano (2021) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kr-2nQ4xs98
2013 12 Spanish Dances “Andaluza” by Enrique Granados. Recorded at North Dakota Museum of Arts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLnjr1NScBU
2007 La Muerte del Angelby Astor Piazzolla. Recorded at Tu TV “Cultura Viva” San Juan, Puerto Rico. Broadcasted on 5/16/2007.
Publications - Sheet Music (http://www.masters-music.com)
2009 Serge Rachmaninoff: Cello Sonata Op.19 G minor. Ludwig Masters Music Publications (M4111)
2006 César Franck: Sonata for Cello and Piano A major. Ludwig Masters Music Publications (M3938)
2005 Charles-Valentin Alkan: Cello Sonata Op. 47. Ludwig Masters Music Publications (M3839)
2004 Ernesto Lecuona: Danzas Afro-Cubanas for Vc and Pno. Ludwig Masters Music Publications (M3752)
2025 Joyce and Aqueil Ahmad Endowment for the Promotion of Peace and Nonviolence
2022 Yamaha USA Classical Piano Artist (Yamaha Artist Services, Inc.) – New York, NY
https://www.yamaha.com/yasi/artists/details.html?CNTID=7207810&type=classical
2021 Service to the Profession Award from North Dakota Music Teachers Associations
2018 Senior Consultant of American Cultural Center at University of Shanghai Science and Technology – Shanghai, CHINA
2016 Honorary Advisory Board Member, Peking University Affiliated High School – Beijing, CHINA
2015 Kanuma Cultural Ambassador, Kanuma Board of Education – Kanuma, JAPAN
https://www.city.kanuma.tochigi.jp/0352/info-0000002618-1.html
2014 Visiting Professor, East China Normal University – Shanghai, CHINA
2013 Advisory Board Member and Guest Faculty, Jiangyin Royal Piano Art – Jiangyin, CHINA
2013 Gold Note Award, Grand Forks Thursday Music Club – Grand Forks, ND
2012 Visiting Professor, Guangdon University of Foreign Study – Guangzhou, CHINA
2010 Visiting Piano Teacher, Shenzhen Yichao Music Educating Center – Shenzhen, CHINA
2011 DM, Indiana University – Bloomington, IN (Piano Performance, Minor in Music Theory)
2002 MM, Indiana University – Bloomington, IN (Piano Performance, cognate in conducting)
2000 BM, Indiana University – Bloomington, IN (Piano Performance)
1997 Academie de Musique Tibor Varga– Sion, SWITZERLAND (Piano)
1994 HS Diploma, Tokyo College of Music High School – Tokyo, JAPAN (Piano Performance)
2011-Present University of North Dakota Music Department – Grand Forks, ND
Professor, 2024-Present
Associate Professor, 2017-2024
Assistant Professor, 2011-2017
2007-2011 DePauw University School of Music – Greencastle, IN
Assistant Professor/Staff Accompanist, 2008-2011
2000-2008 Indiana University Jacobs School of Music – Bloomington, IN
Studio Pianist for Janos Starker, 2006-2008
String Academy Staff Accompanist, 2001-2008
Adjunct Lecturer, Spring 2006 / Assistant Instructor, 2000-2005
Additional Experience
2022-Present Artistic Director / Piano Faculty, Medora Music Academy - Medora, ND
https://medora.com/musicacademy/
2022-Present Artistic Director / Piano Faculty, Warsaw Summer Chamber Music Series - Warsaw, IN
2015-2018 Piano Faculty, Federal University of Santa Maria International Winter Festival - Vale Veneto, BRAZIL
2015-present Piano Faculty, International Music Camp in Peace Garden - Dunseith, ND
2020-2021 InterHarmony International School of Music
2020 August InterHarmony International Online Music Festival
2010 & 2011 Piano Faculty, Lamont School of Music Summer Pre-College Academy – Denver, CO
2008 June Staff Accompanist, Madison Summer Cello Institute – Madison, WI
2007 June Staff Accompanist, Round Top International Festival-Institute – Round Top, TX