Piano
The Gold Medalist of the 2006 International Russian Music Piano Competition, Yukiko Sekino is a pianist of versatility and wide-ranging interests. Her playing has been praised as “thrilling, inspirational” by Florida Sun-Sentinel and noted for “elegance of line, leaping energy” by the San Jose Mercury News. Since making her debut with the Boston Symphony Orchestra at age sixteen, she has appeared as a soloist with orchestras including the New World Symphony, Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra, Stony Brook Symphony Orchestra, Lakeside Symphony, Nova Vista Symphony, and Suburban Symphony.
Performing the Rachmaninoff Piano Concert No. 3 during the final round of the International Russian Music Piano Competition, Sekino was awarded, through audience vote, the Public Prize in addition to the first prize. Other competition successes include those at the Japanese-American Association of New York Competition, MTNA National Yamaha Competition, and concerto competitions at New World Symphony, Harvard University, and SUNY Stony Brook. She is a recipient of the S&R Washington Award, Jackson Prize at Tanglewood Music Center, and an Emerging Artist Award from St. Botolph Club Foundation.
During the 2010/11 season, Sekino’s recital engagements included a return performance at the Dame Myra Hess Concerts in Chicago (with a live broadcast on WFMT radio) and Concerts at One series at Trinity Church Wall Street in New York City. She also appeared as a soloist in Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Merrimack Valley Philharmonic Orchestra in Massachusetts. Sekino won the 2011 Mu Phi Epsilon International Competition; over the next two years, she will tour as a Mu Phi Epsilon Concert Artist, giving recital and concerto performances.
An avid chamber musician, Sekino has been invited to Tanglewood, Kneisel Hall, Music Academy of the West, and Thy (Denmark) festivals. She was a resident pianist of New World Symphony under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas during 2005 – 2008, performing in numerous chamber music and orchestral concerts. Having a significant interest in new music, she has premiered several chamber works in New York, Boston, Miami, and at Tanglewood.
A.B., magna cum laude, Harvard University; M.M., The Juilliard School; D.M.A., SUNY Stony Brook; former faculty at Colby College; Faculty, UMass Lowell. Studied with Gilbert Kalish, Seymour Lipkin, Robert Levin, and Eda Shlyam.
2011-09-02
LOUIS ARMSTRONG