MASAKO OHTA – Piano Player, Sound-Performance-Artist, Composer

“Masako Ohta is a poet of the piano”  (Münchner Feuilleton)

Japanese pianist, sound performer, and composer Masako Ohta creates music that transcends boundaries, embracing interdisciplinary and international collaborations. She enjoys composing, improvising, interpreting, and communicating through keyboard instruments in a wide variety of settings.

Her solo piano albums—"Poetry Album" (2018), "My Japanese Heart" (2020), and "My Music Garden" (2025)—were released by the Winter & Winter label and have garnered critical acclaim and praise from outlets such as "SZ", "BR-Klassik", "Deutschlandfunk", "Münchner Feuilleton", "Münchner Merkur", and "Piano News". "My Japanese Heart" was nominated for the German Record Critics' Award (Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik) in 2020. She has also released CDs featuring live improvisations with clarinetist Udo Schindler: "Ohenrosan" (2014, Pilgrims of Sound, DE), "Botenstoffe" (2017, Confront Recordings, UK), "Kaiyushikiteien" (2019, Creative Sources, PRT), and "Music in Space" (2020, Creative Sources, PRT).

In 2022, the album "Mmmmh", a collaboration with trumpeter Matthias Lindermayr, was released on the Squama label. It was named one of the top ten jazz albums of 2022 by "BR-Klassik" and nominated for the German Jazz Prize (Deutscher Jazzpreis) in 2023. The duo's second album, "Nozomi" (2025), received an award from the German Record Critics.

Masako Ohta is the recipient of numerous music and cultural awards, including the Music Advancement Award from the City of Munich (2018/2019). She was nominated for the German Jazz Prize 2026 in the keyboard instruments category.
She completed her classical piano studies in Tokyo and Berlin and attended masterclasses with György Sebök, András Schiff, and György Kurtág. She has lived in Germany since 1985. Embracing a holistic approach, she combines piano playing with Tai Chi and Japanese calligraphy in her teaching, and conducts masterclasses and workshops worldwide.

Discography:

2014 "Ohenrosan" (Pilgrims of Sound, Germany) with Udo Schindler (clarinet)
2017 "Botenstoffe" (Confront Recordings, UK) with Udo Schindler (clarinet)
2018 "Poetry Album" (Winter & Winter, Germany) solo piano
2019 "Kaiyushikiteien" (Creative Sources, Portugal ) with Udo Schindler (clarinet)
2020 "My Japanese Heart" (Winter & Winter, Germany) solo piano
2020 "Music in Space" (Creative Sources, Portugal ) with Udo Schindler (clarinet)
2022 "Made in Japan" Bandcamp with Udo Schindler (clarinet)
2022 "Mmmmh" (Squama Recordings) with Matthias Lindermayr (trumpet)
2024 "Solo EP" (Squama Recordings) Digital EP-Album
2025 "Nozomi" (Squama Recordings) with Matthias Lindermayr (trumpet)
2025 "My Music Garden" (Winter & Winter, Deutschland) solo piano

Masako Ohta - Vita English:
Masako_Ohta-Vita-English-2026.docx
Masako_Ohta-Vita-English-2026.pdf

Masako_Ohta-Vita-2-English-2026.docx
Masako_Ohta-Vita-2-English-2026.pdf

Masako Ohta Vita - Japanese:
Masako-Ohta-Bio-J-大田麻佐子ピアニスト・作曲家・即興パフォーマー2025.pdf


Website: www.masako-ohta.de