Who is Jon Nakamatsu?

"My only goal was to make the semifinals," Jon Nakamatsu told reporters after he won the Gold Medal at the 10th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 1997.

The jury of 12 unanimously made him the first American winner in 16 years, beating out Russian pianist Yakov Kasman (silver) and Israeli pianist Aviram Reichert (bronze).

Four years earlier, he didn't even make the first cut on the same stage in Fort Worth, Texas.

During the six years before his star power was finally realized, Jon had been teaching German at Saint Francis High School in Mountain View, California. He practiced piano after grading papers in the evenings and days teaching kids who had little idea about their teacher's hidden superhero identity.

"I had exams in my suitcase," he told the Fort-Worth Star-Telegram years later. "I was grading papers during the competition."

He chose Stanford. Not Stanford music. He majored in German studies and earned a master degree in education.

A Bay Area native, Jon grew up in a family without much music in the house. He was intrigued by the first piano he saw when he went to daycare at 4 and took his first lesson at the age of 6.

He never studied at a conservatory.

How's that for an inspiring story?

Oh, and he got small hands. (In his own words)
Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of his monumental triumph,
Peninsula Symphony is proud to present Jon Nakamatsu in our season-opening concert, Perfect Fifths, on Friday, October 27 at the San Mateo Performing Arts Center and Saturday, October 28 at the Heritage Theatre in Campbell. Jon will be performing Beethoven's "Emperor" Concerto (No.5). The program also includes Tchaikovsky's epic Fifth Symphony and Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel's stately Overture in C.

Need another reason to see his highly-anticipated performance? Jon will be playing a very special surprise piece of the evening with the symphony.
Or make Jon's performance the first of FOUR spectacular concerts that include
South Pacific Live at the Symphony, An American Celebration: Bernstein's Centennial and Mason Bates: From Vienna to Silicon Valley - all for $120 (adult), $100 (seniors/students) and $25 (children).
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