Jon Yasuhiro is an American classical pianist. He began studying piano privately at age six and was raised in nearby Sunnyvale, California. He attended Prospect High School, Foothill College, Stanford University (where he earned a B.A. in German Studies and an M.A. in Education), and later worked as a German teacher at Saint Francis High School in Mountain View before pursuing music full-time. In 1997, Nakamatsu won the Gold Medal at the Tenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in Fort Worth, Texas. Following his competition success, he established himself as an international concert pianist, performing with orchestras such as the San Jose Youth Symphony and the Stanford Symphony Orchestra, with tours including performances in Spain and China. Nakamatsu was also named Debut Artist of the Year in 1998 by National Public Radio’s Performance Today.
