Renowned Japanese pianist Susumu Aoyagi began piano lessons at the age of five in the US with Jo Boatright, the assistant of the legendary pianist Lili Kraus. Susumu played for Maestra Kraus and received lessons from her until the age of fifteen. At the age of nine, he made his orchestral debut with the Fort Worth Symphony and continued his lessons in Japan after his family moved back. After winning the Japan National Competition for Students, he studied at Toho Gakuen and UdK Berlin. He has won First Prizes in the Jaén Competition in Spain and the Alfredo Casella Competition, and he is a prize winner of the Marguerite Long = Jacques Thibaud Crespin Competition. He has made numerous orchestral appearances, solo recitals, and chamber music concerts worldwide. His CD recordings have received high acclaim. Susumu Aoyagi is a professor at Tokyo University of the Arts (GEIDAI), president of the jury, producer of the Takamatsu International Piano Competition, and Music Director of the Nagasaki Ojika Music Festival. He currently resides in Tokyo.