About Chiho

Chiho Sunamoto, who has recently been described as the Vanessa Mae of the organ and keyboard world, brings a breath of fresh air onto the keyboard scene. Originally from Matsuyama, in the South of Japan, Chiho began by learning the piano at the age of 3, from there progressing at the age of 9 to the local Yamaha Music School to learn the art of organ playing.

During Chiho's time at St. Katerina University, where she studied opera singing, piano and classical organ, she became one of the youngest people to pass Yamaha's top exam, Grade 3 Music Diploma.

Twice Chiho was a finalist in the Yamaha Electone (organ) Festival, which led to offers of work from Yamaha as an overseas demonstrator and contracts with two of Japan's major TV stations where she composed and performed for a variety of shows.

After leaving University, Chiho continued to tour as an overseas demonstrator for Yamaha, performing in 42countries. In 1986 she settled in the North East of England and has continued to perform both nationally and internationally. As well as performing, Chiho teaches organ and piano, and is the only female in Europe to hold Yamaha top exam passes in Piano, Organ and Music Fundamentals.

Since being based in the UK, Chiho has released 10 CDs, 9 cassettes and a video featuring a range of music. She has also released several software discs and music books for Yamaha.

Notable public performances include:-

Edinburgh Festival, Becks Theatre London, Blackpool Tower Centenary concert which was broadcast live on Radio 2, the Bridgewater Hall Manchester, and the Fairfield Hall, Croydon. Her latest TV performance is part of the Channel 4 documentary series about the organ, entitled "Howard Goodall's Organ Works"

Chiho plays the latest top of the range, state of the art, all singing, all dancing electronic Yamaha Organs and Clavinova that sound one minute like the Berlin Philharmonic and the next like Deep Purple. She also sings like an angel and has a smile that would melt Mount Fuji. Her love of music and performing, combined with her sunny personality, guarantee that anyone attending one of her performances will have an enjoyable time. Her diverse musical tastes that includes classical composers through Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Rachmaninoff to Frank Sinatra, ensures there is something for everyone in her performances.

Chiho's Photo Gallery

Chiho's Concert Diary