The 5th year International Music Festival NIPPON

Akiko Suwanai,Violin

Akiko Suwanai was the youngest person in history to win the International Tchaikovsky Competition, taking her title in 1990. She has performed with numerous prestigious orchestras such as the Berliner Philharmoniker, the Orchestre de Paris and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Akiko gave the world premiere of the Peter Eötvös’ Violin Concerto “Seven”, conducted by Pierre Boulez at the Lucerne Festival in 2007. In 2012, Akiko participated in the jury of the Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition of Belgium. Akiko studied at the Toho Gakuen School of Music, Columbia University and the Juilliard School of Music where she received her master degree. She was also trained at the Hochschule der Künste in Berlin. Akiko performs on the Stradivarius ‘Dolphin’ violin from 1714, which has been kindly loaned to her by the Nippon Music Foundation.
Dai Fujikura,Composer

Dai Fujikura was born in Osaka, but he has spent more than 20 years in the UK where he studied composition with George Benjamin. He has received various commissions from festivals and orchestras including Salzburg Festival, Lucerne Festival, The Proms, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Bamberger Symphoniker, amongst others. His scores are published by G. Ricordi & Co., Berlin ? part of Universal Music Publishing Classical. He has his own label, Minabel records.
Leonard Slatkin,Conductor

Internationally acclaimed conductor Leonard Slatkin is Music Director of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) and the Orchestre National de Lyon (ONL). Slatkin’s more than 100 recordings have garnered seven Grammy awards and 64 nominations, and he has recorded the complete Beethoven and Tchaikovsky symphonies with the DSO (available online as digital downloads). A recipient of the prestigious National Medal of Arts, Slatkin also holds the rank of Chevalier in the French Legion of Honor. He has received Austria’s Declaration of Honor in Silver, and the American Symphony Orchestra League’s Gold Baton Award.
Detroit Symphony Orchestra

Hailed by The New York Times as “cutting edge,” the internationally acclaimed Detroit Symphony Orchestra is known for trailblazing performances, visionary maestros, collaborations with the world’s foremost musical artists, and an ardent commitment to Detroit. Esteemed conductor Leonard Slatkin, called “America’s Music Director” by the Los Angeles Times, became the DSO’s 12th Music Director. A commitment to broadcast innovation began in 1922 when the DSO became the first orchestra in the world to present a radio broadcast and continues today with the free Live from Orchestra Hall webcast series.
Mario Brunello,Cello

In 1986 Mario Brunello was the first Italian ever to win the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, which launched him into a stunning international career. Brunello has played with some of the most prestigious orchestras, including the London Philharmonic, Munich Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra. He has collaborated with conductors such as Valery Gergiev, Yuri Temirkanov, Antonio Pappano, Manfred Honeck, Riccardo Chailly, Riccardo Muti and Claudio Abbado. Abbado has, over the years, invited Brunello several times to play with him and the Orchestra of the Lucerne Festival. Chamber music plays an important role in his artistic life and he collaborates with artists including Gidon Kremer, Martha Argerich, Frank Peter Zimmermann and Alban Berg Quartett. Mario Brunello plays a precious Maggini cello from the 1600s.
Boris Berezovsky,Piano

Born in Moscow, Boris Berezovsky won the Gold Medal at the 1990 International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. Berezovsky is regularly invited by the most prominent orchestras including the Berliner Philharmoniker, Staatskapelle Dresden, Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, BBC Symphony Orchestra. Berezovsky is often invited to the most prestigious international recital series: The Berlin Philharmonic Piano series, Concertgebouw International piano series and the Royal Festival Hall International Piano series in London. His partners in Chamber Music are Vadim Repin and the Borodin Quartet. He took over the work of her friend Brigitte Engerer becoming artistic director of the Festival Pianoscope Beauvais.
Ken-ichi Furube,Oboe

In 1991, just twenty-two years old and still a student at the Tokyo University of Fine Arts and Music, Furube was appointed Principal Oboe with the New Japan Philharmonic, one of Japan’s leading orchestras. He was granted a leave-of-absence from the orchestra to study at the Hochschule fur Musik in Munich by Gunther Passin. A superlative technique and profound musicality allow him to explore and perform a wide and varied repertoire, ranging from baroque to contemporary. He has performed with many prestigious orchestras not only in Japan but internationally and also dedicates himself to chamber music. Collaborating with Akiko Suwanai, he has been active beyond all genres. He is teaching at Sapporo Otani University, Tokyo College of Music, and Soai University.
Yayoi Toda,Violin

In 1993 Yayoi Toda came to the attention of classical music world when she was awarded first prize at the Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition in Belgium. Her overseas performances have included debut concert in New York in 1997. Toda has made recordings such as “J. S. BACH: SONATAS&PARTITAS for Solo Violin BWV1001-1006” from the Ongakuno-Tomo record label, “Six Sonatas for Violin Solo of Ysaye”, the precious favorite violin pieces “REVE D'ENFANT” and “Sonatas for solo violin in 20th century” from EXTON. She is teaching at Toho Gakuen University and is the professor of Ferris University.
Gen Yokosaka,Cello

Gen Yokoyama won the numerous competitions including Viva Hall Cello Competition in 2002 at the age of 15 (youngest ever winner), Idemitsu Music Award in 2005, Hideo Saito Memorial Fund Award in 2008, International Music Competition of ARD Munich (2nd prize in cello category) in 2010. He had participated at Lucerne Festival Academy. He has performed with most of the main orchestras in Japan including NHK Symphony Orchestra, Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, Tokyo Symphony Orchestra and Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra. Gen has studied with Katsuro Washio, Hakuro Mohri and Jeean - Guihen Queyras and studied at the Musikhochschule Stuttgart. He plays a 1710 cello by Pietro Giacomo Rogeri kindly loaned by the Suntory Foundation.
Daisuke Suzuki,Guitar

Born in Yokohama. Daisuke Suzuki was acclaimed by famous composer Toru Takemitsu who praised his playing, saying, “one rarely has the opportunity to hear a performance like his. ” Suzuki won the Idemitsu Award in 2000 and the Arts Encouragement Prize from Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs in 2006. Internationally, he captured third prize in the 1992 Maria Canals de Barcelona International Competition for Musical Performance - Guitar Division. His recording “Homage to Catalonia” was awarded the ‘Art Work Prize of the Agency for Cultural Affairs’ in 2005.
Hiroko Komoriya,Piano

Hiroko Komoriya graduated from the Toho Gakuen College Music Department in Tokyo. She began performing while still a student, and has since had an active career collaborating with numerous performers in recitals, competitions and recordings, as well as on television and radio. In 1990, she was named best accompanist at the 9th International Tchaikovsky Competition. She was also awarded the Hara Chieko Award for best accompanist in 2006, at the 1st Gaspar Cassado International Violoncello Competition in Hachioji. Her collaborations with renowned artists such as Josef Suk, Mario Brunello and Emmanuel Pahud have been well received. Until March 2010, she was an adjunct performer within the Strings Department at the Toho Gakuen School of Music, and is currently an instructor at the Music School for Children associated with the university.

Artists