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The November Steps" (1967), a concerto for shakuhachi and biwa, performed with such incredible intensity by Kifu Mitsuhashi and Kumiko Shuto. Their technical, intellectual, and emotional commitment to the work – including an enormous cadenza that sees the two instruments voyage through spectacular timbral terrain – was by some margin the highlight of the day. (by Igor Toronyi-Lalic, 4th Feb 2013 for TheArtsDesk.com)
Born in Tokyo, Kumiko studied biwa under Mr. Yukio Tanaka and classical music at Tokyo College of Music. In 1998, she graduated from the 43rd NHK Japan Musical Technician Academy with first prize, and in 2001 she joined the Japanese instrument orchestra Pro Musica Nipponia.
In 2002, she placed 1st in the Japan Biwa Music Contest, won the Ministry of Education Prize and NHK Prize. Since then, she has been performing as one of the most acclaimed Satsuma Biwa players in Japan and abroad. She collaborated with top artists including Kifu Mitsuhashi, with whom she performed "November Steps," a masterpiece by Toru Takemitsu for biwa, shakuhachi, and orchestra.
Her major performances in Japan and abroad:
2004: Performed "From the Land of the Rising Sun" in Cyprus.
Performed with the Japanese Music Ensemble "Subaru" in Singapore.
Performed Toru Takemitsu's "November Steps" with the Sagamihara Chamber Ensemble conducted by Hiroyuki Iwaki at the Green Hall, Kanagawa.
2006: Performed Toru Takemitsu's "November Steps" with the Kyoto Symphony Orchestra conducted by Hiroyuki Iwaki at the Kyoto Concert Hall, Kyoto.
2007: Performed in the "Akira Ifukube Musical Festival" with the Japan Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra conducted by Tetsuji Honna at the Suntory Hall, Tokyo.
2008: Performed at the "Prague Shakuhachi Summer School 2008" in the Czech Republic.
2011: Toured in Belgium and Holland with the Court Music Orchestra from the National Gugak Centre in Seoul as part of the 1st edition of the Asia Music Festival.
Most recently, in February 2013, Kumiko performed Toru Takemitsu's "November Steps" with the BBC Symphony Orchestra as part of Total Immersion: Sounds from Japan.
CONTACT:
akiko5@btinternet.com
muartsproduction@gmail.com
www.muarts.org.uk
Born in Tokyo, Kumiko studied biwa under Mr. Yukio Tanaka and classical music at Tokyo College of Music. In 1998, she graduated from the 43rd NHK Japan Musical Technician Academy with first prize, and in 2001 she joined the Japanese instrument orchestra Pro Musica Nipponia.
In 2002, she placed 1st in the Japan Biwa Music Contest, won the Ministry of Education Prize and NHK Prize. Since then, she has been performing as one of the most acclaimed Satsuma Biwa players in Japan and abroad. She collaborated with top artists including Kifu Mitsuhashi, with whom she performed "November Steps," a masterpiece by Toru Takemitsu for biwa, shakuhachi, and orchestra.
Her major performances in Japan and abroad:
2004: Performed "From the Land of the Rising Sun" in Cyprus.
Performed with the Japanese Music Ensemble "Subaru" in Singapore.
Performed Toru Takemitsu's "November Steps" with the Sagamihara Chamber Ensemble conducted by Hiroyuki Iwaki at the Green Hall, Kanagawa.
2006: Performed Toru Takemitsu's "November Steps" with the Kyoto Symphony Orchestra conducted by Hiroyuki Iwaki at the Kyoto Concert Hall, Kyoto.
2007: Performed in the "Akira Ifukube Musical Festival" with the Japan Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra conducted by Tetsuji Honna at the Suntory Hall, Tokyo.
2008: Performed at the "Prague Shakuhachi Summer School 2008" in the Czech Republic.
2011: Toured in Belgium and Holland with the Court Music Orchestra from the National Gugak Centre in Seoul as part of the 1st edition of the Asia Music Festival.
Most recently, in February 2013, Kumiko performed Toru Takemitsu's "November Steps" with the BBC Symphony Orchestra as part of Total Immersion: Sounds from Japan.
CONTACT:
akiko5@btinternet.com
muartsproduction@gmail.com
www.muarts.org.uk
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