Biography

Yura Zaiki is a distinguished Japanese pianist. Moving to the UK at the age of 14, she studied at the Junior Academy of the Royal Academy of Music, where she won First Prize in the Iris Dyer Piano Competition. She pursued further education at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, obtaining her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees with the support of the prestigious ABRSM Full Scholarship and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Trust Scholarship. Yura graduated with top honours, receiving the Performance Prize for Keyboard of the year.

Yura has gained recognition in numerous competitions, winning First Prizes at the Evangelia Tjiarri International Piano Competition, the Petrof International Piano Competition, and the Chiba Piano Competition, as well as Second Prize at the Elena Richter International Piano Competition. She has also been honored with the Craxton Memorial Trust Award.

As a performer, Yura has appeared at esteemed venues such as FAZIOLI Hall in Italy, Larnaca Municipal Theater in Cyprus, and Glasgow City Halls in the UK. Her performances have been featured in prestigious events supported by the Embassies of Japan and the Republic of Lithuania, the Institut français d'Écosse, and the Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation.

Yura has had the privilege of participating in masterclasses with eminent pianists including Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, Richard Goode, Robert Levin, Steven Osborne, and Frank Wibaut. Her formal studies were guided by Aaron Shorr, Fali Pavri, Frank Wibaut and William Fong.

In addition to her performance career, Yura has a deep appreciation for animals, which inspired her to found Cerasus. This organisation hosts charity concerts in Tokyo, London, and Glasgow to support animals in need.

Having been exposed to the distinct cultures of Japan and the UK, Yura has a profound interest in how culture influences musical expression, which continues to inspire her artistry. She is particularly captivated by Japanese culture and is dedicated to integrating its aesthetics and values into classical music. In addition to her musical career, Yura is a dedicated Ashtanga Yoga practitioner, which helps refine her creative expression and alignins her artistic integrity with her performance.