Masaaki Suzuki , Snape Malting, Suffolk, Jason Bye, 26/06/09

Masaaki Suzuki was born in Kobe and began working as a church organist at the age of twelve. He studied composition under Akio Yashiro at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. After graduating he entered the university’s graduate school to study the organ under Tsuguo Hirono. He also studied the harpsichord in the early music group led by Motoko Nabeshima. In 1979 he went to the Sweelinck Academy in Amsterdam, where he studied the harpsichord under Ton Koopman and the organ under Piet Kee, eventually graduating with a soloist’s diploma in both instruments. He then began working as a soloist from his base in Japan, giving frequent performances in Europe and engaging in annual concert tours, especially in the Netherlands, Germany and France. Masaaki Suzuki is currently associate professor at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. In 2001 he was awarded the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. ..While working as a solo harpsichordist and organist, in 1990 he founded the Bach Collegium Japan, with which he embarked on a series of performances of J.S. Bach’s church cantatas. He has recorded extensively, releasing highly acclaimed discs of vocal and instrumental works..].Photograph by Jason Bye.Credit Mandatory.t: 07966 173 930.e: mail@jasonbye.com.w: http://www.jasonbye.com