Born and raised in Osaka, Japan, Sayoko Wada (Sadaeja Oh) is a classical pianist and piano teacher with a Korean-Japanese background. She holds a Master’s degree from the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in the UK and a second Master’s degree from the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, where she studied with Prof. Antti Siirala, Prof. Tuija Hakkila, and Anna Kuvaja. She has also completed a certificate in piano pedagogy.
As a pianist, Sayoko has performed in Finland and internationally. In 2022, she was selected to perform for King Charles III, then the Prince of Wales. She has also performed at the BBC Proms and was a finalist in the Tampere Piano Competition in 2025. Her studies and musical activities have been supported by scholarships and grants, including support from the Sibelius Academy and the Martin Wegelius Foundation. Her awards include the Eric Hodges Memorial Prize and a Jury Special Prize at the Kyoto International Competition.
Alongside her performing career, Sayoko has extensive experience teaching piano to students of different ages and levels, from young children to adults and from beginners to more advanced players. She enjoys teaching and sharing her love of music, adapting lessons to each student’s interests, goals, and pace. She aims to help students build a solid foundation in piano playing while encouraging them to develop their own musical expression.
Sayoko teaches piano at ISM Finland in English and Japanese. To set up a trial lesson with Sayoko, please contact us.