Hando Nahkur has been playing the piano since the age of five. His formal studies started at Estonia’s Tallinn Music High School, where he graduated in 2001 as a pianist and a percussionist. From 2001 to 2003, Hando studied at the Estonian Academy of Music as a pianist, conductor and instrumental arranger.
After 2003, Hando Nahkur came to the United States to study at the Yale School of Music with Professor Boris Berman. In 2006, Hando graduated from Yale with a Certificate of Performance degree. He is currently a student at the New England Conservatory of Music and studies with Professor Gabriel Chodos.
Hando was awarded the Special Prize in Russia’s St. Petersburg Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians, and won First Prize in the Estonian National Piano Competition in Tartu. In 2000, he received Fifth Prize in the L. Knezkowa-Hussey International Competition in Canada and Second Prize in the Konzerteum 2000 Competition in Greece. In 2002, he received First Prize in the Yamaha Foundation Competition and Third Prize at the Citta di Treviso International Piano Competition in Italy. In addition, he was invited to play a recital for the Thirtieth Anniversary of the Estonian Arts Centre in Toronto. After his recital, Mr. Nahkur was awarded a Golden Medal of Merit. He represented his country at the Eurovision Competition in Vienna.
Mr. Nahkur has performed in such events as the International Holland Music Sessions, St. Andrews Summer Festival, TCU-Cliburn Piano Institute, St. Moritz Master Classes and the Piano Texas Festival. He has given recitals and performed concerti with orchestras in Estonia, Sweden, Finland, Germany, The Netherlands, Russia, Greece, Switzerland, Italy, Israel, Canada and the United States.