Profile
Federico AGOSTINI (Violin, Chamber Music)
renowned as a soloist, chamber musician and teacher, was born in Trieste, Italy. He has performed throughout the world as a recitalist, soloist with orchestra, and as leader of the legendary Italian ensemble I Musici in important concert venues like the Berlin Philharmonie, Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Vienna Musikverein, New York’s Avery Fisher Hall, Tokyo’s Suntory Hall and many others.
Agostini has also appeared in various international music festivals in Europe, the United States and Japan. He has performed chamber music with many well-known, distinguished artists, including violinists Jaime Laredo and Joseph Silverstein, violists Bruno Giuranna and Mazumi Tanamura, cellists Janos Starker, Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, Ko Iwasaki, Sadao Harada and Antonio Meneses, as well as with members of the American, Emerson, Fine Arts, Tokyo and Guarneri quartets.
Together with violinist Yosuke Kawasaki (currently concertmaster of National Arts Centre Orchestra, Ottawa), James Creitz (former violist of the Academica Quartet) and Sadao Harada (former cellist and founder of the Tokyo String Quartet), Federico Agostini founded the D’Amici String Quartet. Agostini’s Philips recordings with I Musici comprise Bach’s and many Vivaldi’s violin concertos, including the Four Seasons, also filmed on location in Venice and available on DVD.
Other recordings include Fauré’s Piano Quartets (Claves) and an Hommage à Nathan Milstein, a selection of favorite virtuoso violin pieces (Live Notes, Japan) partnered by pianist Yasuo Watanabe. Mr. Agostini maintains a very busy schedule as a teacher.
Currently a Professor of Violin at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY (USA), he was earlier on the faculties of the Conservatories of Venice and Trieste (Italy), the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik in Trossingen (Germany), and at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music in Bloomington, (USA) During the academic year 2016-17, Mr. Agostini was a Guest Professor of the Tokyo Geidai University of Arts and Music.
His teaching activities include master classes at music universities in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Chile, as well as at institutions in Japan, Italy, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Australia.
Junko Omori(Violin)
Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts. Completed master’s course at the same graduate school. After receiving a grant from the Meiji Yasuda Seimei QOL Cultural Foundation, he traveled to France and completed the 3rd course solo and chamber music at the National Conservatoire de Paris.
Studied violin under Chikashi Tanaka, Takashi Shimizu, R. Pasquier, and chamber music under Junji Suganuma and H. Cartier-Bresson.
Received the Ataka Prize at Tokyo University of the Arts. 2nd place at the 63rd Japan Music Competition. 2nd Grand Prize at the 12th Douai International Competition. Received first prize at the 10th Japan Chamber Music Competition and the Governor of Tokyo Award. After winning the 3rd ADAMI Foundation Competition in Paris, he was loaned a famous instrument and started working as a foundation artist.
In addition to giving recitals in Japan, France, England, and Belgium, he has been invited to major music festivals in Japan and France, such as Yufuin, Kurashiki, Ogaki, Paris “MUSICORA”, Cannes “MIDEM”, and Evian. He has made many broadcast appearances on NHK-FM and French national radio. In 2015, she released her debut CD “Zephyr – Breeze” from Fontec.
As a soloist, he has performed with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra.
Every early winter since 2008, he has continued to give concerts of Bach’s unaccompanied sonatas and partitas at the Hokusei Gakuen University Chapel in Sapporo.
In 2010, in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of his debut, he held concerts of the complete Ysaye unaccompanied sonatas in Tokyo and Sapporo, which received rave reviews.
From 2006 to 2017, he was the principal player of the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra.
Currently, Tokyo University of the Arts and Graduate School of the Chamber Music Department Lecturer. As a cooperating artist and Fukoku Seimei partner artist of the regional creation “Public Hall Music Revitalization Project”, he performs recitals all over the country that are closely related to the community, and his outreach at elementary schools in particular is highly evaluated. Is receiving.
Asako YOSHIKAWA (Violin, Chamber Music)
A native of Ichikawa, Chiba, Asako commenced her violin studies at an early age and entered the TOHO GAKUEN MUSIC HIGH SCHOOL & UNIVERSITY to study under S.Sumi.
Upon Graduation, further Master course studies were undertaken at the ACCADEMIA SANTA CECILIA in Rome, Italy, where her principal teachers were the famed PINA CARMIRELLI, HENRYK SCHERING, and Maestro BRENGOLA. It was after her Graduation at Santa Cecilia, where Asako was awarded full marks and the winner of the HONER Prize, that her career as a concert soloist commenced under Maestro Peter Maag at La Fenice Opera House in Venice. Since then, Ms. Yoshikawa has appeared throughout the world including major venues in Europe, USA, and of course in her native Japan.
Upon her eventual return to Tokyo, Asako was invited to be Concert Mistress of the TOKYO SOLOISTEN, and performed on numerous occasions for the NHK, and was in great demand as a Chamber Music player, for both classical and contemporary composition ensembles.
Her devoted interest in teaching and the musical education of young artists, has led to many of the students appearing at major international music competitions where important prizes have been won at the Long-Thibaud, Osaka International, and many other prestigious events. A number of her students have appeared in recital at CARNEGIE HALL, in New York, while others hold orchestral positions in Europe, including Berlin and London, and Japan.
Ms. Yoshikawa is currently Artistic Director for the TATESHINA MUSIC FESTIVAL in Japan, in addition to holding the position as Executive committee chairperson for the CECILIA TOKYO INTERNATIONALMUSIC COMPETITION.
Asako is invited in many summer festivals and master class, Piediluco(Italy), Monte Fiascone (Italy), Moulin D’ Ande (France)etc.
Recordings of Asako Yoshikawa can be heard on CDs as a member of the TRIO AMATI, with the Duo Pepicelli, and with FEDERICO AGOSTINI, ex Concert Master I MUSlCl, on DUO SERENADE.
Ms. YOSHIKAWA plays an ANDREA GUARNERIUS violin of 1670.
Michele Innocenti (Piano・Chamber Music）
Born in Tuscany, Italy. Lives in Paris. Studied under Antonio Bakkeri at the Cerbini Conservatory in Florence, Aldo Ciccolini at the Conservatoire de Paris, and Rad Ferret at the Liszt Conservatory in Budapest.
Studied chamber music under Franco Rossi and Quartet Italiano. He achieved excellent results at the Lend of Awards Paris Awards, the Stressa International Piano Competition, and the Bardolino International Competition, and began playing as a solo and chamber musician at a young age.
In Hungary, he was invited as a soloist by orchestras such as the Budapest Symphony Orchestra,
Florence and Tuscany, and co-starred in the concerto. He also holds recitals and chamber music concerts around the world. In chamber music, he performed with the leading French players. The performance is recorded and broadcast in various places.
After teaching at the Conservatory of Music in Florence, Lucca, Modena and Paris, he is currently a professor of piano at the Montmorency Conservatoire in Paris.
Obtained the title of “C.A”, which is given to excellent educators in France. He has also been invited as a judge for numerous international competitions.
Yuki Hyakutake (Viola)
Graduate from Tokyo Geijutu Daigaku and finished its Graduate course.
Studied under Fumiki Asazuma, William Primrose, Serju Collo.
Until 1999, chief player of Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra and active as player of solo and chamber music.
Professor of Aichi Prefectural Univ. of Arts. At present Lecturer at Tokyo Geijutu Daigaku and Tokyo College of Music of Tokyo.
Susumu MIYAKE (Cello)
Susumu Miyake has been a solo cellist of Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra since 2012. He is also teaching at Musashino Music College both cello and orchestra.
After graduated famous Toho school of Music with special honor, he went to the United States to pursuit his music and entered Indiana University school music.Hyakutake
He studied two years as a artist diploma course student under famous distinguished cellist, Janos Starker ‘s direction.
As a solist, he gave recitals in Europe, United States, Asia. played concerto with Sendai Philharmonic, Gunma symphony, National Taiwan Symphony and Nordic Ensemble.
He played with great musicians such as Joseph Hala, Nobuko Imai, Federico Agostini , Yuzuko Horigome, And appears in many international music festivals.
He is an music director of chamber music series named Music From PaToNa in Sendai.
And recieved 4th Vienna Philharmonic and Suntory Music Award.
Keiko Hyakutake (Assistant Pianist)
After graduating from Tokyo College of Music and graduate school,
he completed the accompaniment and chamber music departments at the National Conservatory of Music in Paris with the first prize.
2007 Agency for Cultural Affairs Overseas Dispatched Artist Overseas Trainee.
First prize in the chamber music section of the French International Competition.
While attending school, participated in the Long-Thibaud International Competition,
Casals Festival, etc. as an official accompaniment.
He often serves as an accompaniment for stringed instrument classes,
and has performed with members of the Paris National Orchestra and the Orchester National de France.
Returned to Japan in 2009. Performed a recital in Algeria with the support of
the Japan Foundation for Cultural Affairs for 10 years.
Studied piano with Masahiro Miura and Masahiro Kawakami,
and accompaniment and chamber music with J. Kellner, Satoshi Yamato, and C. Ibardi.
Lecturer at Tokyo College of Music (accompaniment, chamber music)
Mayu MIYAKE (Camp Assistant, Assistant Pianist)
Graduated from Tokyo College of Music. She won the Silver Award at the 31st and 34th Aichi Piano Competition in piano duo division.
She passed the 33rd Classical Music Audition and performed at the freshmen’s concert. She is currently a member of Itabashi-ku Musicians’ Association.
