Concertmasters
Two distinguished specialists from the fields of orchestra, opera, and chamber orchestra are active as Concert Masters of the PAC Orchestra.
Photo : Kyoko Shikata
Kyoko Shikata
Kyoko Shikata was born in Kobe. While a student at the Tokyo Natn.ional University of Fine Arts and Music, she placed in the 47th NHK Mainichi Music Competitio As a member of the Tokyo Brahms Quartet, she participated in the 1st Kirishima International Music Festival and received the Kirishima International Music Festival Award. She also took 2nd place and received the Hideo Saito Award in the 15th Min-on Chamber Music Competition. Shikata studied at the German National Freiburg Music Conservatory, where she received instruction from Wolfgang Marschner and also worked as his assistant. In 1982 she took 1st place in the Spohr International Violin Competition. Since 1990, Shikata has served as concertmistress of the WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne, which with she has also recorded the Bartok Violin Concertos Nos. 1 & 2. She has appeared as a soloist with the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra; the Sofia Philharmonic and Slovak Philharmonic Orchestras; and the NHK Symphony, Sapporo Symphony, and Kyoto Symphony Orchestras. She received high praise for her January 1998 recital in Cologne of the complete unaccompanied violin sonatas of Ysaye, of which she had previously released a CD.
Kyoko Shikata has participated in the Okhotsk Music Festival in Monbetsu, the Kirishima International Music Festival, and the Saito Memorial Festival, and has given seminars and concerts with outstanding musicians both at home and abroad. She also serves as the music director for the Affinis Summer Music Festival. Since October 2003 she has held the post of assistant professor at the Kyoto City University of Arts. Since 2005, Shikata has served as concertmistress of the Hyogo Perform Arts Center Orchestra; and in September 2009 she assumed the post of solo-concertmistress of the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra. She had win a Hyogo laureate culture prize in 2009.
Kyoko Shikata has participated in the Okhotsk Music Festival in Monbetsu, the Kirishima International Music Festival, and the Saito Memorial Festival, and has given seminars and concerts with outstanding musicians both at home and abroad. She also serves as the music director for the Affinis Summer Music Festival. Since October 2003 she has held the post of assistant professor at the Kyoto City University of Arts. Since 2005, Shikata has served as concertmistress of the Hyogo Perform Arts Center Orchestra; and in September 2009 she assumed the post of solo-concertmistress of the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra. She had win a Hyogo laureate culture prize in 2009.
Photo : Yasushi Toyoshima
Yasushi Toyoshima
While studying at Toho Gakuen School of Music, Toyoshima began performing as a soloist on both the violin and viola, as well as performing chamber music and as a concertmaster.
In 1986 he was appointed principal concertmaster for the New Japan Philharmonic immediately after graduation from the school. He also served as the concertmaster for the Saito Kinen Orchestra and earned the unwavering trust of many conductors and orchestras.
He made his recital debut as a soloist at Suntory Hall in 1988, and after that has performed together with the many Japanese and international orchestras including the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, Bashmet & the Moscow Soloists, the London Mozart Orchestra.
As a chamber performer, he brought together the Halley String Quartet, and until 2000 was also a member of the resident quartet of the Casals Hall. At present he is a member of Alti String Quartet. Also, he worked with some of the world’s top artists including Isaac Stern, Yo-Yo Ma, Martha Argerich, Pichas Zukerman, Mischa Maisky and Richard Stoltzman.
From 1997 he has served as solo concertmaster at both the Kyushu Symphony Orchestra and the New Japan Philharmonic. Currently, he serves as concertmaster of the Hyogo Performing Arts Center Orchestra, guest solo concertmaster of the New Japan Philharmonic, and concertmaster laureate of the Kyushu Symphony Orchestra. Toyoshima made a conducting debut in 2004 and is developing his activities more actively.
His recent CD “Tenderly” was released through Octavia Record in June 2007. He has released many CDs of chamber music in Japan and overseas and has received great reviews.
Toyoshima was the recipient of the Muramatsu Prize and the first Idemitsu Prize in 1991 and the Cultural and Education Ministry's New Artist of the Year Award in 1992. He is the Music Director of the Nagasaki Chamber Music Festival. He plays a 1719 Antonio Stradivarius.
In 1986 he was appointed principal concertmaster for the New Japan Philharmonic immediately after graduation from the school. He also served as the concertmaster for the Saito Kinen Orchestra and earned the unwavering trust of many conductors and orchestras.
He made his recital debut as a soloist at Suntory Hall in 1988, and after that has performed together with the many Japanese and international orchestras including the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, Bashmet & the Moscow Soloists, the London Mozart Orchestra.
As a chamber performer, he brought together the Halley String Quartet, and until 2000 was also a member of the resident quartet of the Casals Hall. At present he is a member of Alti String Quartet. Also, he worked with some of the world’s top artists including Isaac Stern, Yo-Yo Ma, Martha Argerich, Pichas Zukerman, Mischa Maisky and Richard Stoltzman.
From 1997 he has served as solo concertmaster at both the Kyushu Symphony Orchestra and the New Japan Philharmonic. Currently, he serves as concertmaster of the Hyogo Performing Arts Center Orchestra, guest solo concertmaster of the New Japan Philharmonic, and concertmaster laureate of the Kyushu Symphony Orchestra. Toyoshima made a conducting debut in 2004 and is developing his activities more actively.
His recent CD “Tenderly” was released through Octavia Record in June 2007. He has released many CDs of chamber music in Japan and overseas and has received great reviews.
Toyoshima was the recipient of the Muramatsu Prize and the first Idemitsu Prize in 1991 and the Cultural and Education Ministry's New Artist of the Year Award in 1992. He is the Music Director of the Nagasaki Chamber Music Festival. He plays a 1719 Antonio Stradivarius.