1995 National Chopin Piano Competition Winner

Jon Nakamatsu won the first prize at the 1995 National Chopin Piano Competition. It was his second attempt at the Miami Competition having been a contestant at the 1990 event - all while earning his degrees in German language and Education and working as a high school teacher. Two years later Nakamatsu won the Van Cliburn Competition - the first American to do so since 1981. Jon credits the US Chopin Competition for his success, "My professional life in music would not have been possible without the US National Chopin Piano Competition. It provided me with important performance debuts, contacts, exposure to the media and press, and genuine loving support." In addition to a very successful professional career, Mr. Nakamatsu served on the jury of the 2015 and 2020 US Chopin Competitions.