About Mieko

A native of Japan, graduated from Toho Gakuen School of Music in Tokyo where she studied with Yoshimi Tamaki.  

Under the direction and encouragement of Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Ms.Hironaka Bergt continued advanced studies in France, studying with Lucette Descaves, Bruno Rigutto, Olivier Gardon, and Eric Heidsieck.

 

While in France, Ms. Hironaka Bergt was awarded the Prize of Virtuosity, the Premier Prix at the Conservatoire National de Région de Rueil-Malmaison and at the Conservatoire Supérieur de Paris-CNR, first prize at the Claude Kahn Piano Competition, the Maurice Ravel Medal at the Académie Internationale de Musique Maurice Ravel in voice accompaniment, and The France Lions Club’s Competition of Music Interpretation prize. 

 Significant performances included Moments Musicaux at the Château de Champs, organized by the French Ministry of Culture.

 

Since moving to St. Louis, Missouri (USA), Ms. Hironaka Bergt has been winner of the prestigious Artist Presentation Society Award, and is an established soloist and chamber musician, frequently performing with the American Kantorei Orchestra, the Arianna String Quartet, and members of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.  

 

Since 2019, Ms.Hironaka Bergt has been collaborating with violinist Takashi Aoki, the former concertmaster of the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra who now serves as concertmaster of The Orchestra Japan. 

 Mr.Aoki and Ms.Hironaka Bergt have recorded a CD which will be released in spring 2022 in Japan. 

 

In addition to performing as coach and pianist for the University of Missouri-St.Louis, Ms.Hironaka Bergt is on the teaching and collaborative piano faculty for the Department of Music at Webster University.