“Something truly unforgettable was created by Hayato Sumino when he made his debut on the piano world’s biggest stage” (Classic FM).

Taking the concert world by storm, pianist and composer Hayato Sumino breathes new life into the term virtuoso. His dynamism and creativity are the building blocks of his astonishing online presence—boasting over 1.5 million YouTube followers and 240 million views and still growing—and his passion and spontaneity draw his fans to the concert hall, regularly selling out shows and captivating audiences across North America, Europe, and Asia, with lines out the door for his autograph.

Sumino’s unique style blends classical virtuoso tradition with an arranger’s ear and breathtaking improvisational skills, allowing him to share classical masterworks, jazz, and his original works with audiences across the globe. His global appeal is evidenced by his recent history-making wins of top honors in two categories in Germany’s most important awards in classical music, the Opus Klassik Awards: the Live Performance of the Year (soloist) and Young Talent of the Year prizes for his debut album on the Sony Classical label, Human Universe. Released last fall, the record includes repertoire by Bach, Fauré, Purcell, Sakamoto, and Hans Zimmer, as well as Sumino’s own compositions and arrangements. His second Sony Classical album, Chopin Orbit, is scheduled for release in January 2026.

The 2025-26 season marks Sumino’s busiest yet in North America, and began with sold-out recitals at his Carnegie Hall debut, as well as in Chicago, Stanford and Fresno, California, and an appearance with Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa. Spring 2026 sees a return appearance to Carnegie Hall as soloist with The Philadelphia Orchestra; recitals throughout California, and in Massachusetts and Vancouver. He made his Hollywood Bowl debut last summer to great acclaim, performing his signature version of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with the LA Phil.

Overseas, he recently toured Japan with the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Marin Alsop, and soon gives recitals in Italy, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and Japan. Throughout the season, he performs on some of the world’s most prestigious stages, including the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, the Berlin Philharmonie, and the Vienna Konzerthaus.

Continuing a long series of accolades for his fresh and innovative approach to music, Sumino was awarded the 2025 Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival Leonard Bernstein Award. He was also featured on Forbes Japan’s “30 under 30” list in 2023, which recognizes “young entrepreneurs, leaders, and trailblazers” who are spearheading “the transformation of industries and finding innovative ways to navigate new business realities.” In 2018, he won the Grand Prix at the PTNA Piano Competition, and shortly after in 2020, while completing his Master of Engineering degree, he was recognized with the University of Tokyo’s President’s Award for his exceptional achievements both in music and in academics.

Recent seasons saw Sumino collaborating with the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra for an 11-concert sold-out tour in Japan, conducted by Marin Alsop; at Ravinia Festival with Alsop and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra; and debuting in many of Europe’s renowned concert halls, including the Berlin Philharmonie and Munich’s Prinzregententheater. An extensive sold-out 24-recital tour of Japan culminated in a celebration for his July 14 birthday at Budokan (Tokyo), where he performed for more than 13,000 fans, and his 2024 Royal Albert Hall debut of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra created a media frenzy. And in November 2025, his performance at K-Arena in Japan achieved a Guinness World Record for the most tickets sold for an indoor piano recital, with over 18,000 in attendance.

Hayato Sumino is an exclusive Sony Classical recording artist, an Artist Ambassador for Apple Music Classical, Steinway Artist, and CASIO Ambassador, and continues to forge his own path in the arts, equally comfortable with a range of genres and repertoire.