Hirono Oka

Violin
Hirono Oka is a member of the Philadelphia Orchestra. She has appeared as soloist with the San Francisco Chamber Ensemble, the Utica Symphony, and numerous orchestras in the Philadelphia area. As a chamber musician, she has appeared with the Marlboro Music Festival, the Theatre Chamber Players of the Kennedy Center, the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, and collaborated with Jaime Laredo, Alexander Schneider, Leon Fleischer, Yefim Bronfman, and Murray Perahia. She is a faculty member of Temple and Rutgers Universities.

Don Liuzzi

Timpani/Percussion
Don S. Liuzzi has been active as chamber performer in his over 40 years of professional playing. Recordings include solo and chamber works with Hirono Oka and Chantal Juillet on Philadelphia Percussion Project, and percussion group recording with Philadelphia Orchestra percussionists. While playing in the Pittsburgh Symphony he was active with the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, and subsequently while in the Philadelphia Orchestra, with the Network for New Music recording the works of Jennifer Higdon and James Primosch.

Satoshi Takeshima

Timpani/Percussion
Percussionist at NHK Symphony Orchestra. Tokyo University of the Arts graduate. Second prize winner at 13th Japan Wind and Percussion Competition. Soloist in 136th Tokyo Opera City Recital Series “B to C” and with NHK Symphony for its 1756th subscription concert in Japanese premiere of Tan Dun’s The Tears of Nature. Also accomplished as pianist and composer/arranger, is a devoted musician and constant creator of sounds with vital warmth. With trumpeter Osamu Takahashi, jointly arranges most works performed by SKO Brass Ensemble.

Mika Takehara

Percussion
Based in Sweden, active as soloist and composer. After graduating Toho Gakuen School of Music, completed soloist diploma at Royal College of Music Stockholm graduate school, top of class. Has appeared as soloist with Berliner Philharmoniker, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Luzerner Sinfonieorchester, Helsinki Philharmonic, Dresdner Philharmonie under conductors such as Gustavo Dudamel, Jonathan Nott. Creates works fusing contemporary and experimental genres. Composed music for feature-length documentary film Johatsu–Into Thin Air. Reaching wider audi- ence with ZAWAZAWA for electronics and percussion.

Federico Agostini

Violin
Born in Italy. Has performed in world-class venues as I Musici concertmaster from 1986, been invited as soloist to international music festivals to collaborate with prominent musicians. Formed D’Amici String Quartet with Yosuke Kawasaki, James Creitz, Sadao Harada in 2004. Taught at Staatliche Hochschule für Musik, Jacobs School of Music, Eastman School of Music. In 2016, was guest professor at Tokyo University of the Arts. Visiting professor at Aichi University of the Arts since 2019, Senzoku Gakuen College of Music.

Julien Szulman

Violin
After graduating from the Paris Conservatoire, Julien Szulman achieved the Konzertexamen at Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin. Laureate of Long-Thibaud and Geneva Competitions. He has been guest concertmaster in London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre de Paris, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande among others. As a soloist, he performed with many orchestras and has an active chamber music career. He is head of the recruiting committee in Seiji Ozawa International Academy Switzerland, and teaches in Ozawa International Chamber Music Academy Okushiga since 2015.

Yoshiko Kawamoto

Viola
Winner of: 1992 Geneva Competition 2nd prize (no 1st); 1996 Muramatsu Award; 1997 Nippon Steel Music Awards Fresh Artist Award; 2015 TonenGeneral Music Awards Encouragement Prize. Member of ALTI String Quartet and AOI residence quartet, Guest Principal Viola of Aichi Chamber Orchestra. Participates in: Tanglewood, Marlboro, Davos, and Martha Argerich festivals; Seiji Ozawa Music Academy; Mito Chamber Orchestra; and as soloist with renowned conductors. Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra principal 1999–2002 and NHK Symphony Orchestra guest principal 2017–2021.

Shotaro Nakamura

Viola
Native of Sanda, Hyogo. Studied viola with Yuki Hyakutake and Kazunori Kawasaki. Active at home and abroad, appearing in Festival de Saintes and performing with members of Wiener and Berliner Philharmoniker. Also active in Kansai area, annually organizes “Mid-winter hot classic” concerts in his hometown Sanda. Graduated Tokyo University of the Arts, receiving Douseikai, Acanthus, and Mitsubishi Estate Awards. Winner of 2024 Ninth Gratia Music Award. Trained at NHK Symphony Academy, currently serves as acting principal at NHK Symphony Orchestra.

Haruma Sato

Cello
Came into international limelight as first Japanese to win 2019 ARD International Competition München. Awards also include first and special prizes at 2018 Lutosławski International Cello Competition. Appears with leading orchestras home and abroad including Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and praised in recitals and chamber music. Released three CDs on Deutsche Grammophon. 18th Hideo Saito Memorial Fund, 30th Idemitsu Music, 2021 Commissioner for Cultural Affairs, 32nd Nippon Steel Music Awards. Currently studies at Universität der Künste Berlin. Plays 1903 E. Rocca loaned by Munetsugu Collection.

Fumitsugu Ito

Cello
Solo principal at Tokyo Symphony Orchestra. Began cello and piano at age five. Completed Tokyo University of the Arts and graduate school. Numerous appearances including Saito Kinen Orchestra, Spring Festival in Tokyo, Meister Art Romantiker Orchester, Kitakyushu Hibiki Hall Festival, Hofu Music Festival. Soloist with Tokyo Symphony Orchestra under Jonathan Nott in R. Strauss’s Don Quixote, Haydn’s Sinfonia Concertante, Schoenberg’s Concerto for String Quartet, Boulez’ Messagesquisse. Invited to leading Japanese orchestras as guest principal. Studied under Nobuko Yamazaki, Fumiaki Kono, and Ryoichi Fujimori.