Masanobu Pires, Prep Piano

"Without generous support from the NEC Prep community, we as parents cannot support the music education that benefits him and helps him grow as a better musician." – Eriko Pires, Masanobu's Mother

 

Smiling boy in tuxedo

Masanobu Pires brings enthusiastic energy to everything he does. He began studying piano at NEC Prep with Bianca Oglice in 2019, shortly before the pandemic emerged. When lessons became virtual, it did nothing to dampen his spirit, or his music.

Masanobu won First Place in the NEC Prep Concerto Competition in May 2022. He is one of four winners of the Musicale “Outstanding Young Artist Award,” selected from close to 1,000 young pianists worldwide who competed in the Musicale Festivals throughout the pandemic. He has won three Gold Prizes at the Musicale Music Festivals and numerous top prizes at competitions in the U.S. and internationally. In the 2023 season, he will be performing with one of the NEC Prep School Youth Orchestras.

His mother, Eriko, commented that the welcoming environment at NEC Prep has been important to her son's progress, including the guidance from teachers and even beyond the piano department. She said, "Without generous support from the NEC Prep community, we as parents cannot support the music education that benefits him and helps him grow as a better musician."

She added, “Coming to NEC Prep truly opened up his mind, and all the history and energy in Jordan Hall made Masanobu desire to become a concert pianist and have a life at the Conservatory.”

Masanobu is not only an excellent pianist, but is also deeply committed to using his musical gift to give back to his community and benefit the greater good. After his cousin Austin passed away from alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma cancer in 2021, Masa knew that he wanted to use his own talent as a pianist to organize fundraiser events for cancer research.
 

Donations to The NEC Fund provide resources for young musicians like Masanobu.