Jury Member – YAMAGAMI-ESPINASSE Haru

YAMAGAMI-ESPINASSE Haru

Born in Hiroshima, Japan, she began studying piano with her father. Haru Yamagami pursued her musical education—particularly in organ and Gregorian chant—at the Elisabeth University of Music in her hometown.

After winning a prize at the 2nd Japan Organ Competition in 1979, she decided to move to Europe. She settled in Paris in 1981 and studied at the conservatories of Orsay and Boulogne-Billancourt under the guidance of André Isoir. She was awarded premier prix d’orgue in 1982 and again in 1983.

Haru Yamagami further deepened her musical knowledge by attending the courses of Michel Chapuis and Jean Saint-Arroman in Pierrefonds (Oise).

She performs regularly throughout Europe, the United States, and her native Japan. She has made various recordings for Radio France as well as for the Japanese public broadcaster NHK.

Until 2023, she served as professor of organ at the Conservatoire de Nanterre. She now divides her time between her concert career and her position as organist at the Church of Saint-Saturnin in Antony.