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Profile
Born in
Tokyo, Mari Kumamoto began to study the piano at
the age of 5. When she was 10, her family moved
to Spain.
From 1975,
she studied under Joaquin Soriano at the Madrid
National School of Music. She took the first
prize in the Spain Youth Music Contest. In
1982, she entered the Julliard School of Music
on a scholarship, where she studied under Sascha
Gorodnitzki. Later in 1985, she entered the
Royal Academy of Music in the U.K., where she
studied under Christopher Elton, and privately,
under Andrew Esterhazy.
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(c)Masaaki
Nishimiya
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She won a
prize at the Newport International Music
Competition for Young Pianists, which was
presented by the late Diana, Princess of Wales.
After graduating the Royal Academy of Music in
1986, she became the youngest recipient of the
Recital Diploma. She returned to Japan the same
year.
In 1991,
Kumamoto made the world's first recording of the
complete works of the Spanish composer Frederico
Mompou (1893-1987).
In 1993, she
translated the biography of Mompou, "Musica
Callada". The same year, she was named an
Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM),
a distinction conferred only upon Royal Academy
graduates who have shown conspicuous
achievements. In 1994, she performed in Prague
with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra at its
Sylvester (New Year's Eve) concert. In 1996, she
held a recital in Spain, as a participant of
"Japan Week". In 1998, she held a recital in
Prague, and also performed with Josef Suk and
the Suk Chamber Orchestra. She has been going on
tour in Japan every autumn since
1995.She performed with the members of Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in November 2006.
From April
2000, she played the role of host in the program
"BS Classic Pick-Up" of "Geijutsu Gekijo"("Art
Theater") broadcasted on NHK Educational
TV.
Her collection of essays "Bara-yo-Katatte"("Dear Rose, Please Talk to Me") has been published from Tokyo Ongaku Sha , "Oto-yo-Kagayake"("Let the Sound Shine") , "Puerta del sol, La Pianista" from Chopin. The newest book, "Jinsei-wo-Kofuku-ni-shitekureru-Piano-no-Hanashi" ("Piano makes Happy Life") was released from Kodansha in May 2008. She has released numerous CDs from King Records, her latest being, "Mu´sica Callada ". In April 2008, she became a professor of Music Performance Department, Osaka University of Arts. With her involvement in a variety of activities, the multi-talented Kumamoto continues to win a wide range of fans. With her involvement in a variety of activities, the multi-talented Kumamoto continues to win a wide range of fans.
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