Misato Hanawa, born in Ibaraki, started playing the piano at the age of three, saxophone at the age of ten with Nobuya Sugawa. After finishing a course at Senzoku Music College in Kanagawa with Hiroshi Hara, she entered the National Music Academy Cerqy Pontoise in France, where she is currently studying as a postgraduate with Professor Jean-Yeav Fourmeau (DEM and Gold medal). After, she studied the National Concervatoire Musique de Cambrais with Professor Julien Petit (Gold medal). She won 1st prize at the 2011 Leopold Bellan InternationalCompetition (France), 1st prize at the U.F.A.M Internacional Competition (France), 3rd prize at the Padova International Competition (Italy), 3rd prize at the Stangel International Competition(Slovenia), 4th prize at the Lempdes International Competition (France), 4th prize Junior Saxophone Competition (Japan). She was nominated and became the recipient of the International Music Award in Japan. Misato performed the concerto of J.Ibert with the orchestras of Japan Century in Osaka with conductors Shigeo Genda. She has performed recitals many times in Tokyo, Osaka, Ibaraki, Paris, and other cities. She has recorded her first solo CD with Octavia Record Company. She will return to Japan for a recital tour of 7 cities. Misato is an avid chamber music performer. She is an extremely inquisitive performer and enjoys working on new works by modern composers, as well as resurrecting rarely performed repertoire. Her musical interests are extensive and she explores a wide range of repertoire, from Baroque right up to works by contemporary composers. Her international career has already seen her perform at venues throughout the world, as well as at a number of prestigious festivals including the Music Festivals. Hearing Misato is "like having a deep-tissue massage: you keep wanting to pull away from the sheer intensity of it, and you come out feeling as if your reality had been slightly altered." She is teaching at the Music College of ESA in Osaka. She has since received many accolades and awards in recognition of her talent. For more information, visit https://misatosax.wix.com/misatosax-
