MUZA Pipe Organ Christmas Concert 2023
Christmas memories

Originally from Tokyo, Mari Mihara began her musical training on the piano at five years of age before starting the organ with Kazuo Kohno at the age of thirteen.

In 2004, she was admitted to the Tokyo University of the Arts where she studied organ with Naoko Imai and Rie Hiroe.

In 2008, she obtained her Undergraduate degree with Distinction and was awarded the Ataka Prize and the Acanthus Prize.

Her music studies continued in 2009 by participating in various academies and masterclasses with organists including Michel Bouvard, François Espinasse, Eric Lebrun, Olivier Latry, Christophe Mantoux, among others.

She was awarded her Master's Degree in 2011 in Tokyo and has since been studying with Erwan Le Prado at the Conservatory of Caen. She has received the support of the Japanese Culture Minister through the Program of Overseas Study for Upcoming Artists and in 2012, was awarded the Grand Prix of the International Organ Competition of Chartres.

She recorded a recital CD (Works of Widor, Messiaen, Duruflé) at the Grand-Organ of the cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres (Disques Ctésibios).

Japanese soprano Ena Miyachi is recognized as a promising young artist of her generation. As a recent graduate of prestigious Opera Studio at New National Theatre Tokyo, she performed Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi, Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte, and Gilda in Rigoletto in various concert and opera venues throughout Japan. The highlight of Ms. Miyachi’s recent 2019-2020 season was the Japan tour of Nissay Opera Theater, where she sang in over 20 performances in Hänsel und Gretel (Dew fairy and Sandman) and Music Drama Aladdin, where she performed the main villain.

Ms. Miyachi has received numerous awards and prizes from art organizations in Japan, most notably All Nippon Airline Scholarship in partnerships with Bayerische Staatsoper and Teatro alla Scala, where she received masterclasses from Luciana Serra and Tobias Truniger. As a current recipient of the fellowship program from Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan, Ms. Miyachi currently resides in Budapest, Hungary, as she closely studies with Andrea Rost and Miklós Harazdy at Franz Liszt Academy of Music.