Concert Tour
1 – 14 Aug. 2016
Concert Tour (Spain, Portugal, North Africa)

Concert
Tue, 19 July 2016 – 1:00 pm
Piano Recital as part of the Embassy Series at St Martin-in-the-Fields (London)


Concert
Fri, 1 July 2016 – 19:00 pm
Piano Recital in Oji Hall (Tokyo)


Programme to include Schubert's Piano Sonata No.21 in B-flat major, D.960; Beethoven's Piano Sonata No.27 in E minor, Op.90; Chopin's Nocturne, Mazurka and Scherzo No.2 in B-flat minor, Op.31 as well as the première of Motoki's new composition for piano solo.

Concert
Thurs, 28 April 2016 - 7:30 pm
Piano Recital in Schubert Hall (Schubert-Saal) – Konzerthaus (Vienna)



Programme to include Schubert's Piano Sonata No.21 in B-flat major, D.960; Beethoven's Piano Sonata No.27 in E minor, Op.90; Chopin's Nocturne, Mazurka and Scherzo No.2 in B-flat minor, Op.31 as well as the Vienna première of Motoki's new composition for piano solo.

Book Tickets  >>          Flyer  >>

Concert / Tsunami Charity
Sat, 9 April 2016 - 8:15 pm
Piano Recital in Concertgebouw (Amsterdam)


Programme to include Schubert's Piano Sonata No.21 in B-flat major, D.960; Beethoven's Piano Sonata No.27 in E minor, Op.90; Chopin's Nocturne, Mazurka and Scherzo No.2 in B-flat minor, Op.31 as well as the Netherlands première of Motoki's new composition for piano solo.

Book Tickets  >>           Flyer  >>

Media / Photos / Essay
April 2016
Motoki will restart the Serial Photo Essay 'Music through Travelling the Globe' (tbc) on 'Euro News' magazine (Spring issue).

Concert / Tsunami Charity
Thu, 3 March 2016 - 7:30 pm 

Piano Recital in Barbican Centre - Milton Court Concert Hall (London)



Programme to include Schubert's Piano Sonata No.21 in B-flat major, D.960; Beethoven's Piano Sonata No.27 in E minor, Op.90; Chopin's Nocturne, Mazurka and Scherzo No.2 in B-flat minor, Op.31 as well as the world première of Motoki's new composition for piano solo.

Book Tickets  >>         Flyer  >>

Media / Interview
January 2016
Euro News (UK / Worldwide)

Read article  >>

Media / Photos / Essay
January 2016
'Hanna' Music Magazine – Serial Photo Essay 'Music through Travelling the Globe', writing about the collaboration between Motoki Hirai and Peace Kitchen 'Experiencing Japanese Food through Picture Books and Music' at EXPO Milano 2015

Photo Essay 6 - Milan  >>

Media / Review
December 2015
'Hatoh' Magazine (Japan) -

Media / Photos / Essay
November 2015
'Hanna' Music Magazine – Serial Photo Essay 'Music through Travelling the Globe', writing about piano recitals, collaborations with Haiku artists, and a jam session with the legendary African percussionist Doudou N'Diaye Rose (1930-2015) in Dakar, Senegal.

EXPO MILANO 2015 / Picture Books Project
Fri, 30 October 2015 - 6:00 pm
Motoki Hirai x Peace Kitchen - Experiencing Japanese Food through Picture Books and Music (Reading, Piano and 'Onigiri' Workshop with a variety of sake from all over Japan)

Motoki Hirai (Artistic Director/Composer/Pianist)
Chiara Pasqualini (Reading in Italian)
Midori Shimasue (Presenter in Italian)

Programme  >>

Media
Sat, 24 October 2015
City Lights News Milano (Italy) on the collaboration between Motoki Hirai and Peace Kitchen at Expo Milano 2015

Media / Review
Sat, 17 October 2015
Iwate Nippo Newspaper (Japan)

Read article  >>

Concert / Tsunami Charity
Thu, 15 October 2015 - 6:30 pm
Gala Concert in Aid of Japan Earthquake and Tsunami as part of Takeichiro Hirai's 60th Anniversary of his Professional Début (Iwate Kenmin Concert Hall, Iwate, Japan)
Artists: Takeichiro Hirai (cello), Hideaki hirai (conductor), Motoki Hirai (piano), etc.

Media / Review
October 2015
Ongaku Gendai Music Magazine (Japan)

Media / Photos / Essay
September 2015
'Hanna' Music Magazine – Serial Photo Essay 'Music through Travelling the Globe' Writing about piano recitals in Lithuania, also paying tribute to the Japanese diplomat Senpo (Chiune) Sugihara who saved the lives of 6,000 Jews during WWII.

Photo Essay 4 – Lithuania  >>

Media / Review
14 August 2015
Yomiuri Newspaper(Japan)

Read article  >>

Media / Review
3 August 2015
NIKKEI Newspaper (Japan)

Media / Essay
Aug 2015
The Grieg Journal [Vol.8] – Essay on Motoki's piano composition 'Homage to Grieg' (1987/2007)

Concert
Thu, 23 July 2015 - 7pm
Gala Concert - Takeichiro Hirai's 60th Anniversary of his Professional Début (Kioi Hall, Tokyo)
Performers: Takeichiro Hirai (cello), Motoki Hirai (piano) and Hideaki Hirai (conductor) with Diamond Jubilee Orchestra

Media
15 July 2015
The Music and Dance Press (Japan)

Media / Photos / Essay
July 2015
'Hanna' Music Magazine – Serial Photo Essay 'Music through Travelling the Globe'

Media / Photos / Essay
July 2015
'Hanna' Music Magazine – Cover page photos by Motoki. Essay on the launch of Kozaburo Hirai Museum (Motoki's grandfather) and concerts in Ino Hall in Kochi, Japan.

Media
July 2015 　
Ongaku Gendai (Japan)

Concert
1 June - 9 June, 2015
Concert Tour (Norway and Scottland)

Media
19 May 2015
Kochi Newspaper (Japan) – Concert Review

Media
13 May 2015
Kochi Newspaper (Japan) – Concert Review

Concert
Sun, 10 May, 2015 - 2:00 pm & 4:30 pm [Two Performances]
Special Duo Concerts to celebrate the launch of Kozaburo Hirai Memorial Gallery & Museum in Ino City (Kochi, Japan)

Artists: Takeichiro Hirai (cello), Motoki Hirai (piano)

Media/ Photos / Essay
May 2015
'Hanna' Magazine (affiliate of 'Chopin' Magazine) – Serial Photo Essay 'Music through Travelling the Globe'

Festival / Concert

Wed, 29 April 2015 - 5:30 pm
La Folle Journée au Japon 2015 – Maru-cube, Marunouchi Building (Marunouchi, Tokyo)


Media
Sat, 18 April 2015
Le Soleil (Senegal)
"En concert à Sorano Le pianiste japonais Motoki HIRAÏ entre partitions et poésie"

Media
Sat, 18 April 2015
Walfadjiri (Senegal)
"Prestation du pianiste japonais Motoki HIRAÏ – Sorano au rythme du haiku"

Media
Fri, 17 April 2015
RTS [Radiodiffusion Télévision Sénégalaise] (Senegal)

Media
Fri, 17 April 2015
Le Soleil (Senegal)

Media
Fri, 17 April 2015
Walfadjiri (Senegal)

Concert
Thu, 16 April 2015
Piano Recital - Théâtre National Daniel Sorano (Dakar, Senegal)


Media
Thu, 16 April 2015
RTS [Radiodiffusion Télévision Sénégalaise] (Senegal) 


Compositions / Piano solo
Wed, 15 April 2015
Award ceremony of the 28th International Haiku Competition – Japanese Ambassador's Residence (Dakar, Senegal)


Motoki is commissioned to write new compositions on both traditional and the award winning contemporary Haiku works, premièring them at the piano during the ceremony.

Concert / Private Event
Mon, 13 April 2015
Piano Recital – Japanese Ambassador's Residence (Dakar, Senegal)


Media
Mon, 13 April 2015
Le Soleil (Senegal)
Son Excellence Monsieur Takashi KITAHARA, Ambassadeur du Japon au Sénégal « Le concert du jeudi sera une belle symbiose entre trois cultures »

Concert Tour
11-19 April 2015
Concert (Senegal, West Africa)


Media
Fri, 10 April 2015
Le Soleil (Senegal)
"Coopération Culturelle - Le pianiste japonais Motoki HIRAÏ en concert à Sorano, jeudi prochain"

Private Event
Tue, 10 March 2015
Speech and Piano Performance at the Graduation Ceremony at Teikyo School United Kingdom (Windsor, UK)

Media
March 2015 onwards
'Hanna' Magazine (affiliate of 'Chopin' Magazine) – Serial Photo Essay 'Music through Travelling the Globe'

Concert
24 Jan. – 10 Feb. 2015
Concert Tour (the Caribbean, Panama, Colombia & other Latin American countries)

Lecture Recital / Private Event
Wed, 21 January 2015 – 12:00
Jiji Express Top Seminar – Motoki Hirai (Guest speaker & Pianist)

Media
Sun, 4 January 2015 (5:05pm)
BNS Niigata Radio – Selection of live recordings from the performances in Niigata City (Japan)

Media
January 2015
Chopin Magazine – Essay 'My Thoughts for the New Year'

Concert
Tue, 2 December 2014 - 7pm
Duo Recital with Takeichiro Hirai (cello) in Niigata City Music & Culture Hall (Niigata, Japan) Programme to include Works for cello and piano by J.S.Bach, Beethoven, Casals and Takeichiro Hirai.

Media
December 2014
Chopin Magazine – An essay for 'Pianist News'

Recording Sessions
11 & 12 November 2014
Recording Sessions (Surrey, UK)

Media
18 October 2014
Yomiuri Newspaper (Japan) - A Tribute to Life and Works of Motoki Hirai

Tsunami Charity / Art
Mon, 7 July 2014
Motoki's artwork will be displayed at the Gallery in the UK Parliament (Westminster, London), alongside works by international celebrities from various fields, as part of the Fukushima Tsunami Relief ("Okiagari-koboshi") Project'.

Media
July 2014
Chopin Magazine – Review on Piano Recital (30 May, 2014) at Oji Hall in Tokyo.

Concert / Compositions
22 & 27 June 2014
Performance of Motoki's composition for piano duet 'Hommage à Chopin' (1999/2010) and 'Initiation – Unpleasant Etude for 20 fingers' (2008) at Schimmel Pianos (22 June) and The Schott Music Shop (27 June) in London. Performers: Piano Duo Dahlia (Marina Morishige & Shoko Honma) Presenter: Chie Ishiyama (NHK broadcaster)

Concert
Fri, 27 June 2014 - 8:15 pm
Piano Recital in Concertgebouw (Amsterdam)
Programme to include works by J.S.Bach, Tchaikovsky and Grieg as well as the Netherlands première of Motoki's new compositions for solo piano.

Concert / Talk Event
Sun, 8 June 2014
Piano Recital at Schubert Salon Takasaki at Piano Plaza Gunma (Takasaki, Japan)

Concert / Tsunami Charity
Wed, 4 June 2014 - 7 pm
Charity Piano Recital in Shichigahama International Village Concert Hall (Miyagi, Japan)
Programme to include works by Vivaldi, J.S.Bach, and Grieg as well as Motoki's compositions for solo piano such as "Grace and Hope - dedicated to the victims and survivors of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (2011)".

Concert / Tsunami Charity / Music for Children
Wed, 4 June 2014
Charity Piano Concerts at Shichigahama Junior High School and other schools (tbc) in Shichigahama (Miyagi, Japan)

Media / Tsunami Charity Event / Music for children
3 June 2014
Kahoku Shimpo (Newspaper) – Article on the series of Charity Piano Concerts in Shichigahama (Tohoku, Japan)

Concert
Fri, 30 May 2014 - 7 pm
Piano Recital in Oji Hall, Ginza (Tokyo)
Programme to include works by J.S.Bach, Tchaikovsky and Grieg as well as the World première of Motoki's new composition and his other works for piano solo.

Media
22 May 2014
Asahi Newspaper (Japan)

Media
22 May 2014
The Music and Dance Press (Japan)

Picture Books Project / Festival
Wed, 7 May 2014 - 6 pm
Oxford première of 'World of Japanese Picture Books' (as Composer, Artistic Director and Pianist) in Pegasus Theatre at Brookes Festival 2014 (Oxford, UK)

Media
Sun, 16 March 2014 (10 am - 2 pm)
TBS Radio - OTTAVA amoroso on demand (Japan)

Tsunami Charity / Art
Tue, 11 March 2014
Memorial Event at the Embassy of Japan in the UK (Mayfair, London)
Motoki's artwork will be displayed at the Japanese Embassy in the UK as part of the 'Fukushuma Tsunami Relief ("Okiagari-koboshi") Project', commemorating 3rd anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami.

Concert / Tsunami Charity
Thu, 27 February 2014 - 7:30 pm
Piano Recital in Cadogan Hall, Sloane Square (London)
Programme to include works by J.S.Bach, Tchaikovsky and Grieg as well as the UK première of Motoki's new composition and his other works for piano solo.

Media
Thu, 20 February 2014
Eikoku News Digest (UK)

Media
Wed, 19 February 2014
Weekly Journey (UK)

Concert / Tsunami Charity
Wed, 5 February 2014 - 8 pm
Piano Recital in Carnegie Hall (Weill Recital), New York
Programme to include works by J.S.Bach, Tchaikovsky and Grieg as well as the world première of Motoki's new composition and the US première of his other works for piano solo.

Masterclass
Tue, 21 January 2014 - 6:30 pm
Piano workshop at National Liberal Club (London)

Tsunami Charity Event / Media
Sat, 21 December 2013
A Documentary Film on worldwide charity activities featured on Motoki will be shown in Shichigahama, Miyagi (Japan); with Motoki's music, 'Grace and Hope - dedicated to the victims and survivors of the earthquake and tsunami (2011)'.

Music for Children / Picture Books Project
Sat, 21 December 2014 - 5 pm
Performance of 'World of Japanese Picture Books' (as Composer, Artistic Director and Pianist) and piano concert at JOBA International London in Ricards Lodge High School (Wimbledon, UK)

Concert
Fri, 1st November 2013 - 19:00
Duo Recital with Takeichiro Hirai (cello) in Tsuda Hall, Tokyo
Programme to include Works by Beethoven, Schubert, Mendelssohn and Hirai.

Media
16 Oct. 2013　
Asahi Newspaper – Introduction about the Duo Recital in Tokyo

Media
10 Oct. 2013
Tokyo Newspaper – Introduction about the Duo Recital in Tokyo

Concert
Thu, 29 August 2013
Performance of Motoki's composition 'Hommage à Chopin' (piano duet version) at Densho Hall - Shibuya Cultural Centre, Tokyo

Media
August 2013
The Spectator - Article on Piano Recital in Slovakia

Concert / Picture Books Project / Festival
Sun, 18 August 2013
Piano Recital and performance of 'World of Japanese Picture Books' (as Composer, Artistic Director and Pianist) at The Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava, as part of Cultural Summer and Castle Festival Bratislava 2013

Picture Books Project
Sat, 29 June, 2013
Performance of 'World of Japanese Picture Books' (as Composer, Artistic Director and Pianist) at the Japanese Embassy in the UK (London)

Media
15 March 2013
Hi WEEKLY – Review on Piano Recital in Oman

Picture Books Project / Music for Children
November 2012
Première of 'World of Japanese Picture Books' (as Composer, Artistic Director and Pianist) in Israel and Palestine

Media
October 2012
Dar Life Magazine - Article on Piano Recital in Tanzania