Return recital part of circle of learning and sharing

It's been 15 years since Tamami Honma performed in Utah. The last time she was here, she climbed the stairs of the Assembly Hall on Temple Square, came onto the stage and won first place in the 1990 Gina Bachauer International Young Artists Piano Competition.

Last month, she climbed those same stairs, came out onto the same stage, and performed a recital — this time as a judge for the same competition and the same division (14-18 years old) that she won so many years before.

"Warming up just before my concert brought back lots of memories," Honma said. "Same place, going up the same stairs, same feeling — this time, I was really excited, although I wasn't sure it was nerves anymore. I was really excited about playing in front of all my teachers and everybody who knew me.

"It's very funny, because when I played my recital back here, there were lots of people coming around, saying, 'I was here at your last concert.' If it had been in London, that means that they saw me last month somewhere, but in this case, it's 15 years ago."

Honma wasn't born in Utah, although she spent most of her growing-up years here. Originally from Japan, she was 5 years old, in an international piano competition, when she first met Dr. Paul Pollei. He had come to hear the contestants, and he had an opportunity to speak with her parents.

About a year later, her parents decided to pack up and move to Provo — with two 9-foot grand pianos in tow — so she could study with Pollei. "After two years, we moved to Logan to study with Gary Amano at USU, still dragging along those pianos."

Honma did well, winning first prizes in the Stravinsky Awards International Competition, the Isabel Scionti International Competition, the MTNA Yamaha Competition (National Level), and, of course, the Gina Bachauer Junior International Competition. She also performed as a soloist with the Utah Valley Orchestra, the Mormon Youth Orchestra and the Utah Symphony.

"When I was 16," she said, "I went over to New York to study with Byron Janis, who is now the godfather of my son." She went on to achieve success as a concert artist, performing in such venues as the Bolshoi Hall in Moscow, St. John's Smith Square in London, Carnegie Hall in New York and Wigmore Hall in London.

Honma has a number of recordings, many of which have won critical acclaim. Some have won awards.. She resides with her husband and 8-month-old son in London, where she teaches at the Royal Academy of Music.

Honma's parents still live in Utah, and they still have both of those 9-foot grands.