Mitsuko Uchida

The acclaimed concert pianist Mitsuko Uchida was born in the Japanese seaside town of Atami in 1948. Her parents were diplomats and after her father received a posting to Europe to become Japan's ambassador to Austria she enrolled at the famous Vienna Conservatory, initially under the tutelage of Richard Hauser and latterly with the German pianist Wilhelm Kempff and the Polish-Belgian pedagogue Stefan Arkenase.

When Uchida's father was recalled to Japan the young pianist remained in Vienna to continue her studies and she gave her debut Viennese recital at the age of 14 appearing at the city's famed Wiener Musikverein, one of the world's leading concert venues.

Uchida has progressed through the ranks of concert performers to become one of Europe's best known concert pianists - she is now a UK citizen. She is particularly known for her vibrant interpretations of the works of Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and Chopin and is a distinguished interpreter of compositions by the group of composers known as the Second Viennese School. As well as receiving numerous musical accolades and awards during her career she was made Dame Commander of the British Empire in the 2009 Queen's Birthday Honours.