Born in 1968 in Japan, Hidéki Nagano joined the Ensemble intercontemporain in 1996. At the age of twelve, he won first prize at the national student competition. Following his studies in Tokyo, he continued at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris, where he studied piano with Jean-Claude Pennetier and vocal accompaniment with Anne Grappotte. After graduating with highest honors in vocal accompaniment, piano and chamber music, he won prizes at several international competitions: Montreal, Barcelona, Maria-Canals. In 1998, he received two awards for young talents in Japan (the Muramatsu award and the Idemitsu award), and in 1999 obtained the Prix Samson François at the first international 20th century piano competition in Orléans.
It has always been important for Hidéki Nagano to pursue relationships with contemporary composers and to transmit uncommon repertoire. His soloist recordings include works by Antheil, Boulez, Messiaen, Murail, Dutilleux, Prokofiev, and Ravel. He regularly performs in France and Japan as a soloist and with chamber ensembles. He has been a guest soloist with the NHK Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Charles Dutoit.