Kentaro Nagai, born in 1986, recently completed the Masters Programme with Distinction at the Royal College of Music where he was a Scholar funded by the RCM. He also received the First Class Honour for his Bachelor of Music Degree in 2009. 

His musical training began at the age of four, largely influenced by his mother who is an Opera Singer and a Lieder Singer. He made his concerto debut at the age of eight in Japan. Then at the age of 14, he moved to Canada where he received several music awards and scholarships including the Canmore Mayor’s Award for the Honourable Citizen. He has given numerous performances in Japan, Canada and Europe at such venues as the Banff Centre in Canada, St. Martins in the Field, St. James Piccadilly, St. Paul's Cathedral, Steinway Hall, Cadogan Hall, and the National Gallery. 

He has benefited from several masterclasses given by such Pianists as William Fong, Stephen Hough, Leslie Howard, John Lill, Ronan O’Hora and Kathryn Stott. He also appeared as a concerto soloist most recently performing with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra.

As much as he enjoys his solo performances, Kentaro is a very keen chamber musician and voice accompanist. He regularly collaborates with a Soprano Singer, Sarah-Jane Lewis. 

He has previously studied with Hiroko Hamaka and Suzanne Ruberg-Gordon and currently studies with Gordon Fergus-Thompson and John Blakely. He will continue his studies on the Artist Diploma programme at the RCM from September 2011.