Artists

Japan-born Junko Ueno Garrett has captivated audiences around the world with her colorful tone, poetry, expressiveness, dynamic technique, and wide range of repertoire. She began playing piano at the age of three, trained at the prestigious Toho Gakuen School of Music in Tokyo, and received a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music in the United States.

Junko’s recent engagements in the U.S. include recitals in New York, Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Kansas City, Denver, Salt Lake City, Tucson, Houston, Fairbanks, and many other cities under the auspices of the Japan Foundation, Japanese Embassy, and Japanese Consulates General.

Kenji says about SK-EX;

A Shigeru Kawai concert grand is the most inspiring partner a pianist could ask for on stage. Its endless range of tone and touch is unparalleled and always gives me new possibillities. Every hall should have a Shigeru Kawai!

Kenji Miura is one of the most exciting pianists of his generation and has won critical acclaims from around the world. He has been invited to many prestigious venues around the world, including the Wigmore Hall in London, Konzerthaus in Berlin, Act City Hall in Japan, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Room at the Southbank Centre in London and The London Steinway Hall. He gives regular performances around Japan and Germany, and has also given recitals in Paris, USA, Canada, Dubai and Sweden. He has collaborated with many professional artists from around the globe including the notorious Nash Ensemble from UK, Kaeko Mukoyama (Principal Cellist of the NHK Symphony Orchestra), Yasuhiro Suzuki (Solo Viola of the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra) and Keiko Urushihara.

At the age of ten he was awarded the first prize at the Rai-on Piano Competition. He was a finalist in the 2009 Franz Liszt International Piano Competition for young pianists in Weimar. In 2015, he won the Outstanding Diploma at the Hamamatsu International Piano Competition. He is also the recipient of the AAF Award, which was awarded to him by Martha Argerich and Gustav Alink.

He was born in Japan in 1993. He has studied the piano since the age of three and joined The Purcell School of Music in London in 2006 at the age of thirteen, where he received a Scholarship funded by the UK Government’s Music and Dance Scheme, and studied piano with Roshan Magub and William Fong. Kenji has participated in masterclasses given by Charles Rosen, Dimitri Alexeev, Laurent Boullet and Peter Nagy to name but a few. After auditioning for the Royal Academy of Music in London, University of the Arts in Berlin and the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia and being accepted by all of the above schools, he continued his studies under the guidance of Klaus Hellwig in Berlin. In March 2014, after being accepted at University of the Arts in Berlin and Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler in Berlin, he continued to study with Eldar Nebolsin at Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler. He currently holds a scholarship from Fondation Clavarte in Switzerland.

He is an Artist of the Yehudi Menuhin Live Music Now organisation and performs regularly around Germany with his Duo The Langley Duo(Luke Turrell Viola).

Based in Nashville, TN, Kim Deardorff travels nationwide speaking and playing at a diverse range of engagements, from a NASCAR Nationwide Series event to this year’s Chosen International’s Adoptee’s Teen Camp. He has also worked with a number of music and entertainment companies along with a host of prominent and award-winning artists, songwriters and producers.

From humble beginnings as a newborn orphan in Korea, Mr. Deardorff has grown personally and professionally to become an accomplished pianist and inspirational speaker, having brought his message of hope and healing to hundreds of thousands of people. As an ambassador for the Holt International organization, Kim has helped to raise over 5000 new sponsorships for orphaned children all over the world.

Kirill Gliadkovsky was born in Moscow and has studied music since the age of 5. He attended the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow - the most prestigious music institution in Russia - where his teachers included renowned musicians Lev Vlasenko, Mikhail Pletniev (piano) and Leonid Royzman (organ).

Mr. Gliadkovsky earned both his Master's and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees at the University of Southern California with Professors Daniel Pollack (piano), Cherry Rhodes (organ), and William Schaefer (conducting). Mr. Gliadkovsky is an orchestra and choral conductor, as well. He composes for piano and organ and has premiered his works in Russia and in the USA. He also performs in a duo piano team with his wife Anna Gliadkovskaya and his sister, Ekaterina.

Currently, Mr. Gliadkovsky combines his busy concert schedule with teaching at the University of Southern California and Santa Monica College, where he is on the piano faculty. In addition, he is the music director and organist at Westwood Hills Christian Church in Westwood, California.

Lara started to play the piano at age of 6 and she has won the BBC Young Musician 2010 competition at age 16, performing Saint-Saëns Piano Concerto No.2 in the final round, with Vasily Petrenko and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales in Cardiff.

Her motto:

"Music overcomes all barriers and languages."

Lara commented about Kawai;

"The piano has a beautiful clarity of sound and I like the millennium action very much. One can achieve amazing variety of tone and colour on this piano."

There’s no denying some of the blessings in Laura Story’s life. She wrote the No. 1 worship hit “Indescribable” recorded in 2004 by Chris Tomlin, married a handsome athlete named Martin Elvington the next year, and began working in music and women’s ministry at the 4,000-member Perimeter Church in Atlanta.

After signing an artist deal with the INO Records, her 2008 national debut won a Dove Award for Inspirational Album and earned Laura two consecutive nominations for Female Vocalist of the Year and has since earned Laura a Grammy Award, a Billboard Music Award and 4 Dove Awards—all blessings, indeed.

But amidst that success a brain tumor hospitalized her husband in 2006. The faith Story sang about was put through the unexpected fires of fear and loneliness; most young newlyweds don’t imagine being kept alive at one point by breathing machines or having to find their way through significant post-operative vision and memory loss. Could grace notes resound from such a life-altering struggle? Laura’s incisive new album, Blessings, suggests they do.

Lee Nai Kong is a Senior Music Producer from Malaysia. He respects music and devoted himself to music. After graduating from university, he established 101 Studio, which has been recognized as Malaysia's top recording and production studio.

Lee Nai Kong started his piano lessons learning the electronic piano at the age of 10. When he was 14 years old he took up an interest to start playing music, and got his first job in advertising music at the age of 22.

In 1999, he began to teach as a music teacher in a private college known as UCSI and founded the Popular Music Department. At the age of 26, he arranged and produced Zhang Zhicheng's entire album "Name".

The year 2003, he was discovered by Jacky Cheung and worked as an arranger with him. Lee Nai Kong is quite active in the local Malaysian music scene. In 2004, he made his first appearance in a local film music production with "Berlari ke Langit". He was the music director for "Absolute Superstar" on Malaysia's Asia-Pacific Space (TV Station), and also the music director of the "Ultimate Heaven Group" and the finals concert's producer.

He won the Asia Malaysia AIM Music Industry Award in 2007 and the Top Ten Outstanding Young People Award in Malaysia in 2014.

The Kawai MP11SE is the stage piano for musicians that refuse to compromise, featuring the class-leading Grand Feel wooden-key keyboard action, a selection of excellent acoustic and electric piano sounds, and sophisticated MIDI controller functionality. As a program arranger, executive music director and band director, the MP11SE aligns perfectly with Lee Nai Kong's daily music and performance needs.

Logan Evan Thomas is a dynamic and innovative pianist/producer/entrepreneur residing in New York City. In 2010, he was honored to win 1st place at the Nottingham International Jazz Piano Competition, as well as finish 2nd place at the Montreux International Jazz Piano Competition. The previous year, Logan was 1 out of 4 pianists nationwide chosen to participate in Fred Hersch's "Solo Duo Trio" workshop and present a concert in Carnegie Hall. He is the founding member of the group "Manner Effect" who are comprised of some of the finest musicians in the NYC jazz scene. He is also established as a film composer as well as a producer of pop/r&b music. In 2010, Logan was the composer and music producer of a post 9/11 documentary feature film by Joseph Angel entitled "A View From Sunset Park" which won "Best Documentary" at the 2010 NY International Film Festival. In addition to all things related to being an artist, Logan is the Executive Vice President of Jalreign Music Group (JMG), in which he heads a recording studio, performance venue, and music T.V network called 'Caverock'.

A masterful keyboard player, sax player, guitarist and vocalist, Marty Grebb is perhaps best known for his work with Bonnie Raitt. But, the list of his musical accomplishments goes well beyond. Marty has also worked with such diverse artists as Leon Russell, Willie Nelson, B.B. King, Stevie Nicks, Roger McGuinn, Olivia Newton-John... and many, many more.

Growing up in Chicago, Grebb began playing in bands at the age of twelve and by fifteen had started a band called The Exceptions with high school friend Peter Cetera (Chicago). Marty also had opportunities at that time to record with Paul Butterfield and Mike Bloomfield. In 1966, another local band, The Buckinghams, lost their keyboard player and asked Marty to join. With Marty, The Buckinghams went on to record six top-ten hits and three top-twenty albums.

Muse is an influential alternative rock band hailing from Teignmouth, England, United Kingdom. Formed in 1994, the band consists of Matthew Bellamy (lead vocals, piano, keyboard, guitar), Chris Wolstenholme (backing vocals, bass guitar), and Dominic Howard (drums, percussion). Known for their dynamic and genre-defying sound, Muse seamlessly blends alternative rock, classical music, electronica, metal, Spanish guitars, and progressive rock elements.

Since their formation, Muse has released several studio albums that have garnered critical acclaim and commercial success. Notably, their album "Black Holes and Revelations" (2006) earned the band a Mercury Prize nomination and secured a prominent third place in the NME Albums of the Year list for 2006.

Throughout their career, Muse has amassed an impressive collection of music awards. They have been honored with five MTV Europe Music Awards, five Q Awards, six NME Awards, two BRIT Awards, and four Kerrang! Awards, among others, highlighting their enduring impact on the music industry.

Beyond their musical achievements, Muse has actively engaged in philanthropic endeavors. They have supported the Teenage Cancer Trust, performing at the Royal Albert Hall and generously donating all proceeds from merchandise sales to the charity. In recognition of their contributions to the arts, all three members of the band were awarded Honorary Doctorates of the Arts by Plymouth University in September 2008.

With their captivating performances, innovative sound, and thought-provoking lyrics, Muse has solidified their status as one of the most influential and revered bands of their generation. Their ability to push musical boundaries and deliver powerful live experiences continues to captivate audiences worldwide.

Michael is a rare musical talent, an accomplished musician who has risen to the top of his game, collaborating and performing with today’s hottest artists.

His diverse musical skills have been sought by the likes of Brandy, Christina Aguilera, Ricky Martin, Destiny’s Child, D’Angelo, and Jennifer Lopez. He has performed and/or recorded with some of popular music’s giants including Madonna, Whitney Houston, Lionel Richie, Chaka Kahn, Patti Austin, James Ingrahm, Babyface, Lenny Kravitz, Yoko Ono, George Benson, Natalie Cole, Sophie B. Hawkins, Anita Baker, Edie Brickell, and legends Nancy Wilson, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Liza Minelli and Michael Jackson, to name just a few.

Michael Bearden is currently the Musical Director for the "Lopez Tonight" show.

Singer and pianist Michelle Tumes may have traveled a long way from her native Australia to make her stunning American debut at the age of 26, but she has remained close to her roots in classical piano and Christianity. "Listen," Ms. Tumes first album, which Billboard magazine calls "fresh, heartfelt, and awash in soothing sounds," showcases Ms. Tumes' considerable musical talents. Produced by Dove Award-winning Charlie Peacock and mixed by David Leonard (Shawn Colvin, Indigo Girls), the project combines Ms. Tumes' ethereal vocals, inspired lyric and lavish musical arrangements to evoke a peaceful, flowing sound.

Ms. Tumes played her first Kawai piano as a teen-ager, attending a music conservatory, and she's been hooked ever since. "I love the tonal character of the Kawai," she said. "Whenever I can, I use a Kawai on the road.