Akiko Ebi (海老 彰子 Ebi Akiko, born July 7, 1953) is an Japanese-French pianist.
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Akiko Ebi was born in Osaka. She studied at the Tokyo University of the Arts, and won the piano prize of the 41st Music Competition of Japan. Her international career began with her winning second prize in the 1975 Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud Competition in Paris.[1] She continued her studies with Aldo Ciccolini at the Conservatoire de Paris. In 1980 she won fifth prize at the International Chopin Piano Competition, after which Martha Argerich, who was a member of the jury, took patronage over her.[2]
Ebi's international career continues with performances around the world, with annual tours in Japan, and annual appearances at international music festivals including Festival de la Roque d'Anthéron in France, the Echternach Music Festival in Luxembourg, and La Folle Journée in France.
Ebi has recorded works by Chopin, Brahms, Liszt, Franck and others. Among her most noteworthy recordings are the two discs "Music of Hikari Ōe" of works by the autistic Japanese composer Hikari Ōe.