First prize winner of the International Johann Sebastian Bach Leipzig Competition, American pianist RACHEL NAOMI KUDO is captivating audiences around the globe with her "courageous and perfect playing,” and as an artist with “the highest artistic standards who demonstrates a perfection of technique and precision.”

Since making her orchestral debut with the Chicago and Fort Worth Symphony Orchestras, Rachel has performed at venues including the Fazioli Concert Hall in Italy, the Royal Castle in Poland, Salle Cortot in Paris, Musikverein in Vienna, Tel Aviv Museum of Art in Israel, Tivoli International Festival in Denmark, Bergen International Festival in Norway, Alice Tully Hall, and Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall in New York.

Rachel is recipient of a Gilmore Young Artist Award, was named a Davidson Fellow Laureate by the Davidson Institute of Talent Development, and was a three-time recipient of the Rohm Music Foundation Scholarship in Japan. She was invited to Carnegie Hall's Professional Training Workshops, working with pianists Emanuel Ax and Sir Andras Schiff, and is a graduate of the Juilliard School.

Rachel has conducted masterclasses around the world, and was recently engaged as webcast host for the U.S. National Chopin and Cliburn International Piano Competitions.

Born in Washington D.C. to Japanese-Korean parents, Rachel began studying piano at the age of four with Emilio del Rosario at the Music Institute of Chicago. She worked with Yoheved Kaplinsky, Joseph Kalichstein, Richard Goode, Gilbert Kalish, Kum-Sing Lee, and Leon Fleisher at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University.


Rachel makes her home in New York City and Venice, Italy.