Karin Blom & Akihiro Sano
Karin Blom, singer, Sweden, age 29
Karin Blom, soprano, is trained at Vadstena Voice and Piano Academy before moving to Vienna, where she’s completing her Master’s degree at MUK Wien under Prof. KS L. Watson. She has received the Gabriele Sima (2024) and Anders Walls Confidencen (2025) scholarships. Recent highlights include Berta in X. Montsalvatge’s Babel 46 and a performance at Vienna’s Musikverein 2025, featuring lieder by J. Marx. At Vadstena Opera Festival, she has performed Mrs. X (The Stronger, Hallin) and Apelle (Alessandro in Susa, Mancia) Other roles include Elisetta (Il matrimonio segreto) and 2nd Lady (Die Zauberflöte).
Akihiro Sano, pianist, Japan, age 30
Japanese pianist Akihiro Sano, born in Tokyo 1995, is currently studying a Master’s degree in vocal accompaniment with Prof. R. Heiber. He also studied with the world-renowned singers I. Bostridge, A. Eröd, B. Steinberger and L. Watson, and attended masterclasses by G. Johnson and C. Spencer. He is a semifinalist of the 12th International Chopin Piano Competition in Darmstadt, and has performed concerts worldwide with artists from Wiener Philharmoniker, Philharmonie La Scala, Opera Rome, and Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchester a.o. Since 2024 he is scholarship holder of Nomura Foundation (Tokyo).
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