Kuniko
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Kuniko Kato is one of Japan’s leading percussion virtuosos, known for her astonishing technique on both keyboard and percussion instruments and her expressive, elegant performance style.
After her first album kuniko plays reich (2011), her concert in Kyoto (2012) received the Keizo Saji Prize. Her second album Cantus (2013), featuring percussion arrangements of works by Arvo Pärt, reached the UK Top 10 Specialist Classical Chart and won the ‘Best Recording’ Award from Japan’s Music Pen Club. In 2015 she released Iannis Xenakis’ percussion works Pléïades and Rebonds.
The album Bach: Solo Works for Marimba (2017), featuring Bach arrangements, reached number 2 on Japan’s Classical Billboard Chart and won the Grand Prize at the Japan CD Shop Awards 2018. In 2019, she received an Excellence Award for her live performance of Steve Reich’s Drumming.
Her hometown Toyohashi appointed her as a special ambassador. Kuniko is the only Japanese artist signed to Linn Records and is endorsed worldwide by Pearl and ADAMS. She currently resides in the USA.
