Biography

Akiko Ebi was born in Osaka

Osaka

is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...

. She studied at the Tokyo University of the Arts, and won the piano prize of the 41st Music Competition of Japan. Her international career began with her winning second prize in the 1975 Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud Competition

Long-Thibaud-Crespin Competition

The Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud Competition is an international classical music competition for pianists and violinists that has operated in France since 1943. It was created by the pianist Marguerite Long and the violinist Jacques Thibaud...

 in Paris. She continued her studies with Aldo Ciccolini

Aldo Ciccolini

Aldo Ciccolini , is an Italian-French pianist.-Biography:Aldo Ciccolini was born in Naples. His father, who bore the title of Marquis of Macerara, worked as a typographer. He took his first lessons with Maria Vigliarolo d'Ovidio, and entered Naples Conservatory in 1934 at the age of 9, by special...

 at the Conservatoire de Paris

Conservatoire de Paris

The Conservatoire de Paris is a college of music and dance founded in 1795, now situated in the avenue Jean Jaurès in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, France...

. In 1980 she won fifth prize at the International Chopin Piano Competition, after which Martha Argerich

Martha Argerich

Martha Argerich is an Argentine pianist.-Early life:Argerich was born in Buenos Aires and started playing the piano at age three...

, who was a member of the jury, took patronage over her.

Ebi's international career continues with performances around the world, with annual tours in Japan, and annual appearances at international music festivals including Festival de la Roque d'Anthéron in France

France

The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

, the Echternach Music Festival

Echternach Music Festival

The Echternach Music Festival is an international event which has been held in May and June every year since 1975 at Echternach in the east of Luxembourg. In addition to classical music, modern compositions are performed in the 18th century basilica of St Willibrord and in the church of St Peter...

 in Luxembourg

Luxembourg

Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...

, and La Folle Journée

La Folle Journée

La Folle Journée is a French annual classical music festival held in Nantes. It is the largest classical music festival in France. The festival's name refers to the Pierre Beaumarchais play The Marriage of Figaro, whose alternative title is La Folle Journée .René Martin founded the La Folle...

 in France.

Recordings

Ebi has recorded works by Chopin, Brahms, Liszt, Franck and others. Among her most noteworthy recordings are the two discs "Music of Hikari Ōe" of works by the autistic

Autism

Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their...

 Japanese composer Hikari Ōe

Hikari Oe

is a Japanese composer who has autism. He is the son of Japanese author Kenzaburō Ōe.Hikari Ōe was born developmentally disabled. Doctors tried to convince his parents to let their son die, but they refused to do so. Even after an operation, Ōe remained visually impaired, developmentally delayed,...

.

Awards

• 1975 - second prize in the 16th Long-Thibaud Competition
• 1980 - fifth prize (no fourth was awarded) in the 10th International Chopin Piano Competition
• 1981 - Leeds International Piano Competition
• 1993 - French government Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres, distinction
• 2002 - Japanese Exxon-Mobile Music Prize