M A Y 9 , 2 0 2 4 - 7 : 3 0 P M
Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre - Kobayashi Hall
6 Sakura Way, Toronto
Canadian Solo Debut!
Hayato Sumino started his professional music journey with a significant accomplishment, securing the Grand Prix at the PTNA Piano Competition in 2018. In 2021, he gained international recognition by becoming a semi-finalist at the 18th International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw. Beyond performing in Japan and internationally, Sumino also composes, arranges, and streams his music on YouTube under the alias "Cateen," garnering over 1.3 million subscribers and 170 million views as of November 2023. His accomplishments include serving as the official navigator for BBC Proms JAPAN and being named in the Forbes Japan 30 Under 30 list. Since 2021, he has been a Steinway Artist and a CASIO electronic musical instrument ambassador. In 2024, He has also been named an Artist Ambassador for Apple Music Classical and recently signed with Sony Classical in Berlin, Germany. As he continues to establish a strong presence as a classical pianist, he also draws audiences as an entirely unique musician, known for his thoughtful exploration of music that transcends genre boundaries.
Presented in partnership with the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre
Hayato Sumino began his full-fledged musical career as the Grand Prix winner of the PTNA Piano Competition while he was a graduate student at The University of Tokyo in 2018.
In 2021, Sumino garnered international attention as a semi-finalist in the 18th International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw, Poland. In addition, he also won the third prize at the 2019 Lyon International Piano Competition, a gold medal at the 2017 International Chopin Competition in Asia, and many more accolades. He studied with Jean-Marc Luisada and Katsuko Kaneko.
He has appeared as a soloist with numerous orchestras, including the Symphoniker Hamburg, NHK Symphony Orchestra, Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra, and Dohnányi Orchestra Budafok.
Hayato Sumino completed his Master of Engineering degree at The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Information Science and Technology in March 2020. Sumino received The University of Tokyo President’s Award, recognizing his outstanding achievements in both music and academics. Alongside his academic endeavors, he actively conducted research on Music Information Processing at the Institute for Research and Coordination in Acoustics/Music (IRCAM) for six months, beginning in September 2018.
Sumino is recognized for his distinctive style, which blends classical techniques, arrangements, and improvisational skills. He shares his unique musical style through performances in North America, Europe and Asia, captivating audiences at Boston Symphony Hall, Wiener Konzerthaus, Salle Cortot (Paris), Bulgaria Concert Hall, Suntory Hall (Tokyo), The Symphony Hall (Osaka), National Concert Hall (Taipei), Victoria Concert Hall (Singapore), Lotte Concert Hall (Seoul), Incheon Arts Center, and more.
In addition to performing concerts in Japan and abroad, Sumino also writes, arranges, and streams his own music on YouTube under the name “Cateen,” amassing over 1.2 million subscribers and 160 million views (as of September 2023). He also achieved significant milestones, including becoming the official navigator for BBC Proms JAPAN and earning a coveted spot on the Forbes Japan 30 Under 30 list.
Furthermore, he has expanded his musical capabilities by performing contemporary pieces, including the Japan premiere of “Concerto for Piano and Orchestra” by Thomas Adés in 2022 and the Japan premiere of “Concerto for Violin, Piano and String Orchestra, Op. 105” by Nikolai Kapustin in 2023.
In 2023, Sumino relocated to New York, United States. During this season, he also made his American debut, performing with the Boston Pops Orchestra under the direction of Keith Lockhart in Boston. He recorded Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1 with Marin Alsop and the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, released in 2022. In 2020, he released his debut album, “HAYATOSM”(eplus music).
Since 2021, he has been a Steinway Artist and CASIO electronic musical instrument ambassador. As he continues to establish a strong presence as a classical pianist, he also draws audiences as an entirely unique musician, known for his thoughtful exploration of music that transcends genre boundaries.
Sumino has signed the exclusive recording contract with Sony Classical in Berlin, Germany. His new album is planned to release in Autumn 2024, commencing his worldwide debut.