Credits:

Karen Takaguchi

Description:

Graduated at the top of her class from the prestigious Royal Conservatory of Antwerp, Belgium, marimba player Karen Takaguchi has been active on the international scene. Here comes her long-awaited first solo album. In addition to a sense of stability backed up by her own technique, her performance is one-of-a-kind, capturing the individuality of each piece in detail. The album features mainly original marimba compositions, but also includes some Bach masterpieces, which will make you aware of the diverse charms of this instrument. Beginning with the colorful Feel the Sunlight, which is also the title of the album, followed by Golinski's Shade, which was written for Takaguchi, and Keiko Abe's masterpiece Prism Rhapsody, you can feel Takaguchi's appeal from many angles. ＜She graduated at the top of her class from the Kunitachi College of Music, where she majored in percussion, and was also awarded the Takeoka Prize. She entered the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp, Belgium, and graduated first in her post-graduate course in solo, post-graduate course in marimba, and post-graduate course in chamber music. He has performed with the Antwerp Youth Orchestra (Belgium).Participated as a soloist in the "Marimba-Spektakel" Belgium tour, and performed the world premiere of Mona Ahadab's Marimba Concerto No. 1 with the Orchestre de Lagerlanden (Belgium). She was invited to perform at the "Road to Asean 2012" music festival organized by MUPA, Burapa University (Thailand), and the 4th China International Percussion Competition (China). As a member of the percussion ensemble "Shinichi Ueno & Phonics Reflection," he has been invited to the Romania International Percussion Festival and the IPEA Shanghai International Percussion Festival, and has participated in concerts and CD recordings. He has won the first prize in the percussion section of the 13th KOBE International Music Competition, the Hyogo Prefectural Education Agency Prize, the Takahashi Pearl Prize, and the first prize in the New Tenuto Competition (Belgium). He won the first prize in the chamber music division of the 4th European Music Competition (Italy) with a score of 100 points and the "Paolo Serrao" Special Prize. Currently a member of "Shinichi Ueno & Phonics Reflection," "Fuwari" marimba ensemble, and "Duo Printemps. He is a part-time percussion instructor at J. F. Oberlin University, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Music. Fontek