Ken Iisaka

A native of Japan, Iisaka began playing piano at age one, but he did not learn to play with his hands until 4. He once dreamed of becoming a concert pianist, but eventually followed his second love as a profession: computer programming. He obtained a degree in artificial intelligence, and has worked as a software engineer in international finance and technology. Piano remains his passion, and has performed in Russia, Germany, Italy, Canada, Japan, China, as well as in the US, championing lesser known composers such as Alkan and Medtner. He was thrice a finalist at the Cliburn Amateur, and a winner at competitions in Washington, DC and St.Petersburg, Russia. Iisaka lives near San Francisco with his partner, Yvonne Liu, surrounded by 4 pianos and Orpheus, a Bernedoodle.