Aki Kawano was born in Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan, where she began her piano studies at the age of 7. She received her Bachelor of Music degree from University of the Pacific, while studying with Frank Wiens. At the Cleveland Institute of Music, she graduated with a Master of Music degree and a Professional Studies diploma as a student of Vivian Hornik-Weilerstein and Anita Pontremoli. Since moving to Hong Kong in 2007, she has maintained a busy teaching studio, both privately and at Parson’s Music. She has also performed in concert both solo and collaboratively with musicians from the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra.