Epinal International Piano Competition 2025: Shigeru Kawai SK-EX chosen as official piano for prestigious competition

The Epinal International Piano Competition took place in Épinal, France, from March 21 to 30, with the selection of the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX full concert grand piano as the official instrument for the competition.

One of Kawai’s most esteemed piano technician, MPA (Master Piano Artisan) Yuta Miura from Kawai Japan, also played a pivotal role at the Epinal International Piano Competition. He and a piano technician apprentice from Japan, Yota Kimura, diligently worked on not only crafting the sound, but also contestant support through active communication.

Kawai’s piano technician (MPA): Yuta Miura

The Epinal International Piano Competition 2025: Final Results

2nd Prize winner: Aidan MIKDAD

4th Prize winner: Eugenia SANCHEZ DURAN

Comments from prize winners

■ 1st Prize winner – Yuya NISHIMOTO:

– How did you feel about winning the prize?
I am very honoured to be the first Japanese in 26 years to win the first prize (the first Japanese male winner) and the Contemporary Music Prize at the unanimous decision of the Epinal International Piano Competition 2025. I received enthusiastic applause from the audience in the Epinal’s historic Italian-style theater and beautiful red-toned main hall. The Chopin Concerto No. 1 with Mr. Ustina Dubitsky, conductor,  and the L’orchestre National de Metz Grand-Est on the wonderful Shigeru Kawai SK-EX grand piano was a great stage performance. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who supports me.

– What are your impressions of the SK-EX full concert grand piano?
The lovingly beautiful tone of Shigeru Kawai SK-EX grand piano is unique and captivating. The MPA, an artist of sound, has made every round of the tuning in excellent condition. It is a fine instrument that gives me an artistic sensation where the heart and the tone resonate together.

1st Prize winner: Yuya NISHIMOTO

■ 3rd Prize winner – Mathis CATHIGNOL:

– How did you feel about winning the prize?
Of course, taking part in this competition was an incredible adventure, and reaching the finals was a wonderful surprise, given the level of the competition and the number of contestants. I was not expecting such a result, which is very encouraging for me.

– What are your impressions of the SK-EX full concert grand piano?
I felt comfortable to play on the piano and it and responded well to my musical intentions. Furthermore, I am truly grateful to Kawai’s piano technicians for their kind and warm supports throughout the competition, which I all deeply appreciated.

3rd Prize winner: Mathis CATHIGNOL

About the Epinal International Piano Competition

The Epinal International Piano Competition was created in 1970 by Madame Suzanne Chevalier. It was an emanation of the “Concours Artistique d’Epinal” (which still exists) at the instigation of Monsieur Albert Ehrmann, President of the Confédération Musicale de France and President of the Order of the Musicians.

Official website: https://www.concours-international-piano-epinal.org/

About the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX full concert grand piano

Unveiled in 2001 as the flagship instrument of the Shigeru Kawai line, the SK-EX concert grand piano is hand-crafted in limited numbers following a unique ‘prototyping’ creation process. In order to achieve the supreme range of expression required in a concert piano, each instrument utilizes a variety of carefully selected materials, with premium aged spruce soundboards. Shigeru Kawai instruments adopt the advanced Millennium III keyboard action, featuring extended wooden keys and advanced ABS Carbon action parts, providing superior speed and responsiveness than conventional wooden action parts, allowing pianists to express a greater range of feeling and emotion in their performance.

Official website: https://www.shigerukawai.jp/en/