Acclaimed for the poetic intensity and radiant clarity of her performances, Yuko Sano is an award-winning Japanese concert pianist. A Steinway Artist since 2018 and the first Japanese pianist to be named a Young Steinway Artist in 2014, she has earned a reputation for programmes that combine depth, elegance, and a deep sense of narrative.

Yuko made her concerto debut aged 15 with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, having given her first international solo performance in Salzburg at the age of 8. She has since appeared at major venues across Europe, South America, and Asia, including Southbank Centre, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, and Teatro del Lago, and is scheduled to make her Suntory Hall debut in Spring 2026.

A passionate promoter for meaningful music-making and increasing accessibility to classical concerts, Sano is the founder of acclaimed concert series in Tokyo, including her sought-after annual recitals at Iino Hall and her ‘Bridge to the Future’ solo piano series at Itabashi Cultural Hall, consistently selling out its 1200-seat venue and reflecting her enduring connection with audiences.

Yuko is a committed advocate for new music and cultural dialogue. She has given the Japanese premieres of works by Thomas Adès and Stephen Hough, and is artistic director of the Oxford–Japan Prize for Composition, fostering new music across cultures.

Having trained at the Royal Academy of Music in London, Yuko graduated with multiple awards and a DipRAM, awarded for an ‘outstanding final recital’. She also studied at the Liszt Academy in Budapest and the Tokyo University of the Arts.

Yuko’s debut album Kotoba was released to critical acclaim and selected as "Editor’s Pick" by Record Geijutsu and ranked as one of Chopin Magazine’s Top 4 recordings. Yuko was the first Japanese pianist invited to record for Steinway’s global SPIRIO catalogue, with her performances of Liszt, Chopin, Takemitsu, and more now featured on all SPIRIO pianos worldwide.