Sanae Yoshida, pianist

 

Sanae Yoshida is an Oslo-based pianist whose work encompasses both contemporary and classical repertoires, performing actively as a soloist, chamber musician, and ensemble pianist. She collaborates regularly with composers and has premiered numerous works by both Norwegian and international composers.

 

In 2025, she completed her artistic PhD at the Norwegian Academy of Music/The Norwegian Artistic Research Programme with the project “Mi(my)crotonal Piano”— a project that expands the acoustic piano’s palette through microtonality and interrogates its cultural, social, and political stakes. (For details, see the project site: mymicrotonalpiano.com) Her doctoral project was recognized by the evaluation committee for its originality and societal relevance, noting her artistic independence and vision.

 

Yoshida is a member of Ensemble Ernst, and she is the founding member of Ensemble Temporum, an Oslo-based contemporary music ensemble. 
In 2025, she also became part of a new quartet Ugelvik/Yoshida/Torrence/Stene.

Her debut solo album “My microtonal Piano” (LAWO Classics, 2024) received international critical acclaim. BBC Music Magazine praised it as “a disc of terrific imagination and daring – Yoshida deserves every commendation.” Her discography also includes recordings of chamber works by David Monrad Johansen (SIMAX, 2015, nominated for the Norwegian Grammy Spellemannsprisen), Halfdan Cleve (SIMAX, 2016), Øyvind Mæland (LAWO, 2015), and a double album of piano works by Magne Hegdal with Håkon Austbø and Ellen Ugelvik (Aurora, 2025).

As a soloist, she has performed with orchestras including the Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, and Ensemble Ernst. Her solo and chamber appearances have taken place at prominent Norwegian festivals (e.g. Ultima, Festspillene i Bergen, Hardanger Music Festival, Risør Chamber Music Festival) as well as international festivals such as Klang (Copenhagen), Sound Festival (Scotland), Engadin Summer Music Festival (Switzerland), and more. Recent seasons have featured extensive touring in Scandinavia, the UK, and continental Europe with Ensemble Temporum.

Originally from Japan, Yoshida studied at the Toho Gakuen School of Music in Tokyo before relocating to Norway to study with Prof. Jiří Hlinka at Barratt Due Institute of Music, and thereafter with Prof. Håkon Austbø.

  

Yoshida lives in Nesodden, a short boat ride from Oslo.

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