Mari Kato

Mari Kato is a Lecturer of Piano and Accompaniment at the Strings Department of the Mozarteum University in Salzburg since 2000. She previously taught accompaniment at Folkwang University in Essen (1995–2000). A renowned pianist, she specializes in solo and chamber music performances, with notable collaborations with conductors like Lorin Maazel and orchestras such as the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra. She has recorded over 10 CDs, focusing on works by composers like David Popper, Wilhelm Popp, and Julius Klengel.

• Education: Studied concert piano with Tiny Wirtz (Musikhochschule Köln) and piano chamber music with David Wilde (Musikhochschule Hannover). Attended masterclasses with Paul Badura-Skoda and Sergei Dorenski.

Her research interests span classical piano pedagogy, baroque and romantic repertoire interpretation, and collaborative music performance. Notable recordings include world premiere recordings of Wilhelm Popp’s flute sonatas and David Popper’s cello works.

• Awards: Beethoven Piano Competition (1987), Lugano International Piano Competition (1991).

Active in international festivals and educational outreach, Kato balances teaching with a prolific recording career, emphasizing lesser-known classical works.