Jon Nakamatsu

Jon Yasuhiro Nakamatsu (born 1968, San Jose, California) is a Japanese American classical pianist who still resides in San Jose but mostly performs away from home. He is the son of David Y. Nakamatsu (San Jose engineer) and Karen F. Maeda Nakamatsu (city employee).

In June 1997 Nakamatsu won the Gold Medal at the Tenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in Fort Worth, Texas. He is the first American to win this prize since 1981. Right after the competition, he quit his job as a high school German teacher to pursue a career as a classical pianist. He did not attend a music conservatory or major in music while he attended college and graduate school.

During the summer of 2005, Nakamatsu toured with the San Jose Youth Symphony in Spain, performing the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2, and in June 2007, he toured with the Peninsula Youth Orchestra to Budapest, Prague, and Teplice playing the same piece. During the summer of 2008, he also toured with the Stanford Symphony Orchestra to China, playing Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue."

• Studied piano privately with Marina Derryberry since age 6 (1974).
• Graduated from Prospect High School, Saratoga, California, 1986
• A.A. Associate of Arts degree, Foothill College (community college), Los Altos Hills, California, 2000 (officially awarded long after degree requirements met)
• B.A. Bachelor of Arts degree in German Studies, Stanford University, California, 1991
• M.A. Master of Arts degree in Education, Stanford Graduate School of Education, California, 1992

• May–June 2007: Regular Jury member, Fifth International Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs, Fort Worth, Texas
• 2006-current: Co-Artistic Director of Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival (with Jon Manasse)
• June 2000: Regular Jury member (preliminaries only), Second International Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs, Fort Worth, Texas
• June 1999: Regular Jury member (all three rounds), First International Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs, Fort Worth, Texas
• 1997–current: Full-time pianist
• 1991–1997: German language teacher at Saint Francis High School in Mountain View, California and part-time pianist.

• Named Debut Artist of the Year in 1998 by National Public Radio’s Performance Today
• Was featured in Reader's Digest in June 1998
• Has been profiled on CBS Sunday Morning

Nakamatsu is featured in the documentary movie "Playing with Fire": The Tenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, which aired on PBS television and is available on DVD.