Yumi Kurosawa
13 & 20-strings Koto player / Composer / Improviser / Computer Sound
Yumi is an innovative musician, born and raised in Japan, began studying the 13-strings Koto at the age of three under her parents, Kazuo and Chikako Kurosawa and began studying 20-strings Koto under Nanae Yoshimura at the age of fifteen. Received first prize at National Competition for students in 1989 and '92 and Scholarship from The Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan in '98.
As well as extensive performance in Japan, she has toured in Canada, Germany, Malaysia, Russia and the United States. In 2002, she moved to New York in pursuit of collaboration with various genres of musicians and artists, and has appeared on many well known venues such as Apollo Sound Stage, Joe's pub, WNYC radio and held her concert at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie. Yumi released her original CD album, "Beginning of a Journey" in 2009. She has been working on her project In Between Traditional & Contemporary by Koto. Also lecturing both traditional and contemporary Koto music at school, organization, museum and so on. Member of Hougakuten Concert, Tokyo, Master qualification from Seiha School (style).
Awards
- 2006: Tokyo Contemporary Koto Music Competition Finalist (original music composition)
- 1998: Received Scholarship of The Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan
- 1996: Passed NHK Broadcaster Japanese Traditional Music Audition
- 1992: Received First Prize at National Koto Competition for students
- 1989: Received First Prize at National Koto Competition for students
2009: Released all original music composition CD album "Beginning of a Journey". Played in "The Gift of Music" at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. Held concert "In Between Traditional & Contemporary by Yumi Kurosawa" in NYC, Life After Dark by Dana Leong at Apollo Sound Stage at Apollo Theater, Joe's Pub and WNYC Radio Greene Space, NYC, Salon Concert at Peabody Essex Museum, MA.
2008: Play [HANA ICHIMOMME- Japanse actress Seiko Tano] at Bank Street Theater, NYC, APRU(Asian Pacific Rim University)annual meeting ceremony in Tokyo, Japan, Ensemble East Concert at Eastman School of Music.
2007: Pulse Jazz Composers : Sihr Halal Concert at Roulette, NYC, Hougakuten Concert in Tokyo, Japan, Muse concert at The Juilliard School
2006: Joint recital with Dozan Fujiwara(Shakuhachi) in Yamagata, Japan, Yumi Kurosawa Koto Recital at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall.
2005: Meredith Monk 40th Anniversary Concert at Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall, Theater [Deadly She Wolf Assassin at Armagedon] at Japan Society, NYC and Philadelphia 2000: NHK Broadcast TV program [Genjimonogatari-Wakana] Tokyo, Japan
1993: Performed with Evjan Rattai from Prague Cello Ensemble at Suntory Hall in Tokyo, Japan
