Kuniko Kato
Kuniko Katois one of the most promising young percussionist in the world.
Specializing herself both in marimba and percussion, she studied under Keiko Abe (marimba), Yoshitaka Kobayashi and Kyoichi Sano (percussion) at Toho Gakuen School of Music in Tokyo. While at school, she performed with Toho Gakuen Orchestra conducted by Kazuyoshi Akiyama as a soloist for "Concerto for marimba and string orchestra" written by Akira Miyoshi. Then she advanced for further study in Europe after graduation from Toho Gakuen School of Music. She studied under Robert Van Sice at Rotterdam Conservatorium in Holland, where she received "Cum Laude" ( First percussionist to receive this honor), and in 1997 she took part in the recording on James Wood's Marimba concerto in London, where she was recognized highly as a performer (NMC label). Also her first solo CD was released in Japan on October, 1999 from alacarte company. As of today she has been invited to perform and join in many recording sessions among various world known composers, players and chamber groups.
Recently she has eagerly joined with the Yatsugatake Kogen Festival (directed by Toru Takemitsu), Saito Kinen Festival (directed by Seiji Ozawa) included U.S. Touring 2000, ARS MUSICA Festival (Belgium), Oxford Festival (U.K.), or PASIC 2000 in Dallas (New Music/Research Day "Time for Marimba") etc... And she also collaborates with Dancers and Theaters. She has been an active member of Saito Kinen Orchestra, Paulownia Percussion Group, Ensemble NOMAD (Tokyo), and Ensemble ICTUS (Belgium).
Awards include the 2nd prize in the 7th Japan Wind and Percussion Competition (1990), 2nd prize in International Leigh Howard Stevens Marimba Competition (1995), and "Kranichstein Musikpreis" in the Darmstadt (1996).