Jean-Hisanori Sugitani was born in Japan in 1981. He studied at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique (CNSM), Paris, where he was awarded first prize in piano and in chamber music, and studied harmony and early counterpoint, before specialising further in chamber music. He has won a number of national and international competitions as both a soloist and chamber musician (first prize at the San Sebastián, Claude-Kahn and Sucy-en-Brie competitions, and at the 10th International Competition of Contemporary Chamber Music, Kraków). His enthusiasm for contemporary music has led him to play an active rôle in popularising the current repertoire and to work with such key figures as Krzysztof Penderecki, Pierre Boulez and Nicolas Bacri. He has also given the premières of many works by composers including Guillaume Connesson, Karol Beffa, Richard Dubugnon and Jacques Boisgallais. Passionate about music education, he currently teaches piano at the Bourg-la-Reine/Sceaux Conservatory.