Japanese percussionist Kuniko Kato is best known for playing steel drums. But don’t expect to hear the kind of music you might encounter on a Caribbean cruise.



Instead, Kuniko Kato is exploring the sonic possibilities of an instrument that even in its unmodified state sounds like an otherworldly combination of gong and keyboard.



Biography:

Kuniko Kato is a soloist who is recognized the world as one of the most gifted and significant percussionist of her generation on today’s contemporary & classical music scene. Her technical virtuoso, exquisite musical insight and expressive yet elegant performance style continue to attract not only the audiences but named maestros and composers as well.



Kuniko Kato is renowned for her flawless techniques to play both keyboard instruments and percussion instruments seamlessly with her deep musical intelligence. Kuniko’s native Japanese DNA gives colorful language and dimension to her interpretation.



Studied under the world marimba legend - Keiko Abe at Toho Gakuen School of Music in Tokyo, Japan and advanced her study under Robert Van Sice at Rotterdam Conservatorium in the Netherlands. Kuniko was graduated with the highest honor (summa cum loude) as the first percussionist in school history.



While studying, Kuniko Kato has already progressed her professional career and played various concertos and solo recitals including "Concerto for Marimba and String Orchestra" written by Akira Miyoshi. After graduated she resided in Europe for further advancing music and artistic career, where she was awarded from various competitions and foundations, that include "Kranichstein Musikpreis" in the Darmstadt '(1996), 2nd prize at 1st International Leigh Stevens Marimba competition (1995), Cultural Award from her town Toyohashi, Japan (2002)., etc.



In 1997, Kuniko Kato recorded James Wood's Marimba Concerto in London where her performance was highly complimented by BBC (NMC label, also the live performance in Huddersfield Festival 2001 that was on air by BBC).



Also her first solo cd “To the Earth” was released in 1999 by alacarte cie label.



Today Kuniko Kato continues to perform and collaborate in many recitals and recording sessions with various world renowned composers, conductors and orchestras including Franco Donatoni, James Wood, Toru Takemitsu, Ianis Xenakis, Seiji Ozawa, Steve Reich, Unsuk Chin, etc.. Along with her solo works in Asia, Europe and U.S, she has been a performing member of orchestra and chamber groups such as Saito Kinen Orchestra, Ensemble ICTUS (Belgium) and Ensemble Nomad (Tokyo).



Career highlights for Kuniko include Japan premiere of “Music Theatre Jodo” in 2005 dedicated by James Wood, which the story is based on Yukio Mishima’s novel.



In May of 2006, Kuniko Kato revived the legendary percussion concerto “Cassiopeia” by Toru Takemitsu as a part of Takemitsu Memorial Concert at Tokyo Opera City in Japan and the performance was live-recorded to a limited edition CD.



Multi faced Kuniko Kato has been collaborating in creative art scenes with renowned artists from different genres of performing arts such as Megumi Nakamura-Dancer at NDT, Satoshi Miyagi-Theatrical director, Za Ondecoza- Japanese Taiko troop, etc. Also she produces various commercial music that includes a theme music for TV program NHK Art Theatre.

As Kuniko continues to perform around the world, in 2008-09 seasons she showcased a solo recital at Sao Paulo Univ. for their 1st International Percussion Festival, appeared at historic Monday Evening Concert in Los Angeles, solo recital at Vancouver New Music, double concerto by Unsuk Chin at Suntory Summer Festival and many others.



Kuniko Kato's recent engagements include the production of a new live performance titled “Sound Space Experiment - Steel Drum Works” in Tokyo, Japan on March, 2009, where she world-premiered “Electric Counterpoint by Steve Reich, version for multi-percussions.



In addition Kuniko Kato has strongly committed to music education through various forms of percussion workshops, master classes and open-rehearsals whenever possible in conjunction with her solo recitals. Since 2004 she has been conducting series of log drum (slit drum) workshops for children with mental deficiency in Japan, and she will continue to devote her skills and talents toward music education and cultural contribution.



Kuniko Kato has been performing as one of a few world wide endorsers of Adams Musical Instruments and Pearl Musical Instruments.