Hailed by international press as a pianist whose “readings are very convincing” (Fanfare Magazine) and for her “exceptionally high technical level” (General-Anzeiger Bonn), Misuzu Tanaka has established herself as an artist of remarkable individuality.

She has performed in prestigious concert venues throughout the world, from the Gewandhaus in Leipzig and Mozart’s Museum at Villa Bertramka in Prague to Alice Tully Hall in New York, and is also a respected regular performer for Music from the Frederick Collection, a leading North-American venue for performance on historical instruments.

With notable success in international competitions, Ms. Tanaka has also received prizes and awards in the International Janáček Competition, Poland International Piano Festival Competition, Boulder Bach Festival's World Bach Competition and the Daniel Rutenberg Chamber Music Competition to name a few.

Her debut album, “Misuzu Tanaka in Concert”, which was recorded live on the Concertant Classics label, features works by Leoš Janáček and J. S. Bach, two composers who have been a constant source of her musical inspiration. Her most recent release is an album Epilogues with clarinetist Maksim Shtrykov, which focuses on four clarinet sonatas that are among the last works of three leading composers – Johannes Brahms, Camille Saint-Saens and Francis Poulenc.  The album received excellent reviews from critics and the Shtrykov-Tanaka Duo has been described as “clairvoyant collaborators” who “serve up world-class performances” (Classics Today) and praised for having “a real affection behind the enterprise: affection for the composers and between the musicians” (MusicWeb International).  

Highlights of the past seasons include appearances on the Northeast Kingdom Classical Series (VT), Placitas Artist Series (NM), Music Matters (CT), Art Complex Museum (MA), Roche Visiting Artist Series (PA), a concerto debut at the Amadeus Festival (MT) with the Festival Orchestra under the direction of maestro John Zoltek as well as recitals at Chamber Music Society of Maryland, Cedarhurst Chamber Music Series (IL), Distinguished Artists Lecture and Concert Series (CA), Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts (IL), Pro Musica in San Miguel de Allende, Chamber Music Society of Maryland, and Ridotto Classical Concerts (NY).

In the past year, she has begun touring Japan with Maksim Shtrykov, and this season she will collaborate with members of the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra in trio and quintet performances. Other performances this season include a European tour with appearances on “Les Piano Folies du Touquet” in France as well as a series of concerts in Hungary at the opening concert of the 3rd International Cello Festival in the Kodály Conservatory of Törökszentmiklós as well as Nádor Hall in Budapest.

In the past year, she has begun touring Japan with Maksim Shtrykov, and this season she will collaborate with members of the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra in trio and quintet performances. Other performances this season include a European tour on “Les Piano Folies du Touquet” in France as well as a series of concerts in Hungary at the opening concert of the 3rd International Cello Festival in the Kodály Conservatory of Törökszentmiklós as well as Nádor Hall in Budapest.

An avid ensemble collaborator, Misuzu Tanaka has appeared with prominent artists including James Dunham (Cleveland Quartet) and members of the National Symphony Orchestra and Tokyo Symphony Orchestra. In 2012, together with her artistic partner and critically acclaimed clarinetist Maksim Shtrykov, she began touring throughout the United States as the Shtrykov-Tanaka Duo. Her latest chamber music project is Trio Confero (clarinet, cello, piano).

Born in London, United Kingdom where she began her piano lessons at the age of five, she then continued her studies in Japan and in the United States with Martin Canin at The Juilliard School. Her Masters and Doctoral degrees are from University of Michigan where she was a full scholarship recipient studying with Logan Skelton and devoted much time to the study and performance of the works of Leoš Janáček, which led to further studies with Miroslav Brejcha and the late Ivan Moravec in the Czech Republic.