Yoko Reikano Kimura, Koto

Musician

Yoko Reikano Kimura is one of the most captivating artistic voices of Japanese koto and shamisen consistently praised by critics for her musical elegance and versatile repertoire. Based in New York and Japan, Kimura has concertized around the world including prestigious venues such as the Warsaw Autumn Festival, Israel Festival, The University of Cambridge, John F. Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Metropolitan Museum, Kabuki-za and various World Heritage Sites. Kimura has also performed Daron Hagen’s Koto Concerto: Genji with the Wintergreen Music Festival Orchestra conducted by Mei-Ann Chen and worked with renowned artists and organizations such as Heiner Goebbels, Wiener Solisten Trio, American Symphony Orchestra, and Basil Twist. Her awards include the First prize at the prestigious 10th Kenjun Memorial National Koto Competition, the Kyoto Aoyama Barocksaal Award, and a scholarship from the Agency of Cultural Affairs of Japan. Kimura is a founder of Duo YUMENO, with cellist Hikaru Tamaki. The highlights of the duo’s performances include the Chamber Music America National Conference, the National Cherry Blossom Festival and its 10th Anniversary Recital at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. Kimura has studied with Kono Kameyama, a leading disciple of Kin’ichi Nakanoshima, Senko Yamabiko, a Living National Treasure and Akiko Nishigata. (Website: yokoreikanokimura.com)