Pianist Maria João Pires Wins Japan’s Praemium Imperiale Award

Pires has won the global arts prize alongside a cash award of 15 million Yen (approximately $102,000 USD) 

Inaugurated in 1988, Japan’s prestigious Praemium Imperiale Awards is offered annually by the imperial family of Japan and celebrates achievements in painting, sculpture, architecture, music, theater, and film.

The Portuguese pianist Maria João Pires has won the prize in the music category, recognizing her contributions to the field in both performance and artistic leadership. 

Her fellow laureates of the 35th edition of the awards include the painter Sophie Calle, sculptor Doris Salcedo, architect Shigeru Ban, and filmmaker Ang Lee. 

Born in Lisbon in 1944, Pires gave her first public piano performance at the age of four. She later studied at the Lisbon Conservatory with Campos Coelho and Francine Benoit. 

At age 17, she received a scholarship to study in Germany with Rosl Schmid and Karl Engel, and launched her international career with her recital debuts at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall in 1986, and at Carnegie Hall in 1989. 

Additionally, she released recordings for the Erato label for 15 years and with Deutsche Grammophon for 25 years.

In 1999, Pires created the Belgais Centre for the Study of the Arts in Portugal where she developed choirs for children from rural backgrounds. In 2012 in Belgium, she formed the Partitura Choirs for children from rural and underprivileged backgrounds, alongside the Partitura Workshops, with the aim of connecting music with the environment, nature, and life.

Among her awards include first prize at the 1970 International Beethoven Competition, UNESCO’s International Music Council prize, and the 1989 Pessoa Prize. Her upcoming projects include a tour of South Korea and further performances across Europe.

Previous winners of Japan’s Praemium Imperiale Award include Wynton Marsalis, Yo-Yo Ma, Leonard Bernstein, Judi Dench, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Phillip Glass, David Hockney, Steve Reich, Robert Rauschenberg, Ravi Shankar, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Billie Tsein, and Tod Williams.