Pianist Kojiro Okada joins violinist Hugo Meder and cellist Bogeun Park

Pantoum Trio - credit Gregory Massat

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Trio Pantoum has announced the addition of a new member, pianist Kojiro Okada, who will be joining current members violinist Hugo Meder and cellist Bogeun Park. Okada succeeds Virgile Roche, who leaves after a seven years with the trio to pursue other opportunities.

’A long time friend since our Conservatoire studies together, Kojiro Okada is a magnificent pianist and marvelous chamber musician,’ said the trio’s string players in a statement. ’It was very natural for us to continue our musical adventure with him. Kojiro brings us an energy, creativity and joy that we look forward to sharing with you at our upcoming concerts! We’re really thrilled and we hope to see you soon at one of our concerts to enjoy the music together.’

Bordeaux-born pianist Okada began playing the violin alongside his brother, but soon after turned to the piano. In 2008, he was admitted to Anne-Lise Gastaldi’s class at the CRR de Paris, where at the age of 13, he won the piano prize with distinction. He then entered the class of Hortense Cartier-Bresson and Florent Boffard at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse (CNSMD) in Paris. He has performed in numerous Parisian venues, including the Salle Pleyel as well as the Festival Chopin de Nohant, Festival Nohant Hors les Murs and Festival de l’Orangerie de Sceaux. He is the first prize winner of the 2018 Gabriel Fauré International Competition.

Trio Pantoum’s numerous recent achievements include winning first prizes at theTrio di Trieste International Chamber Music Competition, Joseph Haydn International Chamber Music Competition and the Lyon International Chamber Music Competition. The ensemble also secured second prizes at the Osaka ICMC and Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition, and recently received the third prize at the ARD Competition in Munich. Trio Pantoum is currently undergoing an artist residency at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel and 2023-24 Classeek Ambassador Programme.

Upcoming highlights for the trio include a tour of Italy in January 2024, collaboration with La Belle Saison and Philharmonie de Paris in 2024-2025, as well as recording a debut album.

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