Kanon Matsuda

　Kanon Matsuda was born in the city of Takamatsu, Japan. She started her piano training at four years of age with Professor Yoshiko Hosoda. Beginning in 2002, Kanon was a student at the Gnessin Special School of Music (college), in the class of Professor Elena Ivanova.
　In March of 2004, Kanon was awarded the Grand Prix at the International Piano Competition in memory of Grieg in Moscow. In November of 2006, she was the recipient of the “Gold Nutcracker” (first prize) in the 7th International Television Competition for Young Musicians “The Nutcracker” in Moscow. In January 2007, she appeared before Alexey II, the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, at the children’s Christmas party which was held in the patriarchal residence in the Danilov Monastery.
　In April 2009, Kanon received the first prize and gold medal at the AADGT International Young Musicians Competition “Passion of Music” in New York. In November 2010, she was awarded the Grand Prix at the International Competition “Classic 2010” in Aktobe, Kazakhstan.
　In 2011, Kanon Matsuda won the Scriabin Scholarship “Path to Scriabin.”
　In March 2012, she was the winner of the Romantic Music Festival for young musicians in Moscow. In February 2013, she was awarded the title “Best Student of 2012 of the Gnessin Special School of Music.”
　On the 29th of April, 2013, Kanon performed a concert in honor of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the residence of the Japanese ambassador in Moscow. In September 2013 she received a grant for the training program “New Talents” from the Ministry of Culture of the Japanese Government. In June 2014, Kanon graduated from the Gnessin Special School of Music, receiving the “Red Diploma” awarded to students with outstanding academic achievements; and in August of 2014 she entered the Moscow State Conservatory on a scholarship from the Russian government. She studied in the class of Professor Mikhail Voskresensky, and graduated in June 2019, again receiving the “Red Diploma.” She continued her studies with Prof. Eliso Virsaladze in the graduate school of the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory, and completed the course in June 2021.
　In November 2014, Kanon released her first CD in Japan, on the Deutsche Grammophon label. Her second album, “Pictures at an Exhibition” was released in June 2017. Her third album, featuring works such as Tchaikovsky’s “The Seasons,” is set for release in September 2025 on the Universal Classics label.
　Kanon has an intensive musical life. She has performed in the best halls of Moscow: the Great, Small, and Rachmaninov Halls of the Moscow State Conservatory, the Svetlanov and Chamber Halls of the Moscow International House of Music, and the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall.
　Kanon gave her debut performance in an orchestra concert at the age of eight. She has performed with such conductors as Andrea Battistoni, Pietari Inkinen, Kazuyoshi Akiyama, Masahiko Enkoji, Tadaaki Otaka, Ken Takaseki and Michiyoshi Inoue; and with numerous orchestras including the State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia, the National Philharmonic of Ukraine (Kyiv), the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, and NHK Symphony Orchestra. In 2012, Kanon gave a successful performance in Japan with the Russian National Orchestra conducted by Mikhail Pletnev on the orchestra’s Asian tour; and took part in the largest festival of the Russian National Orchestra in Moscow, as well as in concerts of the Philharmonic Seasons (Yekaterinburg, Chelyabinsk).

Curriculum Vitae as of September 2025

2025/26 season only. Please contact Japan Arts if you wish to edit this biography.