Yuriko Kuronuma - Waga Kokoro No Mexico - Japan CD

Credits:

Yuriko Kuronuma

Description:

Yuriko Kurokuma: Born in Tokyo. She began studying the violin at age 8 and became a student of Saburo Sumi. In 1951, she won first prize and the Minister of Education Award in the elementary school division of the All-Japan Student Music Competition. She subsequently enrolled in the music department of Toho Gakuen High School in 1956. That same year, she won first prize and the Special Prize at the Japan Music Competition. In 1957, she made her debut with the NHK Symphony Orchestra, conducted by W. Loibner. In 1958, at the age of 18, she enrolled at the Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Prague as a student invited by the Czech government. While receiving instruction from Professor F. Daniel, she also studied under H. Scherling. While a student there, he won first prize at the Czech Contemporary Music Performance Competition. In 1962, he graduated from the Academy with honors, ranking first in his class. That same year, he made his European debut performing with the Prague Symphony Orchestra at the “Prague Spring” International Music Festival. Since then, he has been actively performing internationally as a soloist with renowned orchestras and conductors, and has been highly acclaimed for his efforts to introduce works by leading Japanese composers—including Hikaru Hayashi, Akira Miyoshi, Ryohei Hirose, Yoshio Mamiya, Toru Takemitsu, and others—abroad, particularly through premieres. In 1971, she made her American debut performing with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. In 1979, she gave the world premiere of Ryohei Hirose’s Violin Concerto in Tokyo, and in 1981, she performed the American premiere at Carnegie Hall in New York with the American Symphony Orchestra, to great acclaim. In 1980, she founded a small music academy, the “Academia Yuriko Kronuma,” in Mexico City. She devoted herself to string instrument education and has nurtured many outstanding musicians, including Adrián Justus, who is now one of Mexico’s leading violinists. In 2005, he served as music director for Ikuma Dan’s opera *Yuzuru* at the “International Cervantes Arts Festival,” staging its Mexican premiere with a cast of Mexican singers. In 2008, she performed in Japan as well, making history in Japanese opera by staging the first performance of the opera by a foreign artist with flawless Japanese and authentic vocal performance, and she was highly acclaimed for showcasing the prowess of Mexico’s vocal music scene to Japan. She received the “Performing Artist Award” and the “Smetana Medal” from the Czech Composers’ Union. He was awarded the “Order of the Aztec Eagle” by the President of Mexico. He also received the “Tlatelolco Eagle Award,” the “Music and Theater Critics’ Award,” and the “Mozart Medal” from the Minister of Foreign Affairs. In Japan, she was awarded the “Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette,” as well as the “Minister of Foreign Affairs Commendation,” the “Minister of Health and Welfare Award for Child Welfare and Culture,” the “Japan Foundation Encouragement Award,” the “Daido Life Special Award for Regional Studies,” and the “Soroptimist International Chikayo Award,” among others. (1/2)