Kaori Fujii Trio

The music of Kaori Fujii Trio draws from the diverse backgrounds of its members to create a striking world of its own. From dazzling classical virtuosity and jazz improvisation to the mesmerizing tones of ancient instruments.

The three members formed the group especially for this concert after performing and recording together for many years in a variety of projects. Their broad appeal is no doubt due to the rich diversity in programming combined with the highest level of musicianship.

Their repertoire includes imaginative arrangements of classical, jazz and traditional melodies with the group's unique instrumentation of modern flute, piano, and various percussions, including Middle Eastern and North African hand drums.

Born in Tokyo in 1979, Kaori Fujii has emerged as one of the leading imaginative and creative flutists ever to come out of the classical music world. From baroque to contemporary, Fujii plays it all with her distinctive sound and an intensity of feeling that captivates concert audiences and CD-listeners alike. She has performed on tours with such renowned artists as Phillip Moll (Pianist), Albrecht Mayer (Oboist), Stanislav Bunin (Pianist), Gerhard Bosse (Conductor), Justus Frantz (Conductor), Vienna Piano Quartet, Vienna String Trio, Suk Chamber Music Orchestra, Sinfonia Varsovia, Tokyo Metropolitan Orchestra and Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, to name only a few. Fujii has graced the stage of all of the leading concert halls, such as Alte Oper Frankfurt, The Symphony Hall, Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall, and Suntory Hall, had numerous concerts broadcast on NHK Television network channels and NTV Television, and made many guest appearances on popular radio shows.
In 1996 at the age of 17, Fujii took the first prize in the 7th Japan Woodwind Competition. The next year, she was the first prize winner at the 14th Japan Wind and Percussion Competition, and in 1998, at the 67th Music Competition of Japan. She was the youngest winner in the history of these competitions. She was also awarded the second prize in the 44th International Competition Maria Canals de Barcelona in 1998, and in the Flute/Piano Duo category of the10th International Flute Competition Friedrich Kuhlau in 2003. Other distinctions include the Asahi Newspaper Award and the E. Nakamichi Award.

A graduate of the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, and the soloist class of the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Stuttgart, Fujii has extensively studied with Jean-Claude Gérard, Paul Meisen, Jeannie Baxtresser, Aurèle Nicolet, Wolfgang Schulz, Sir James Galway and Akiko Mikami. She now resides in Berlin - Germany and travels world wide to perform regularly. The breadth, depth and creativity of Kaori Fujii’s music distinguish her as a trend-setting flutist on the cutting edge of the art.
Kaori Fujii website - http://www.kaorifujii.com

American composer/pianist Bruce Stark completed his master's degree in composition at the Juilliard School in 1984 as a student of Vincent Persichetti and Roger Sessions. His music reflects the rich and varied elements of his musical upbringing: early studies in percussion, jazz piano, and classical composition. His works, which range from solo piano and chamber music to choral and orchestral pieces, have been performed, recorded on numerous CDs, and broadcast on radio programs worldwide. Awards include 1st Prize in the Composers Guild Contest, 2nd Prize in the Barlow International Competition, ASCAP composer awards and others.
Since 1989 he has resided in Tokyo, where he is active as composer, arranger and pianist. Bruce Stark website - http://www.brucestarkmusic.com

Christopher Hardy, an American based in Tokyo since 1989, is a highly praised percussionist, composer, educator and recording artist. Hardy has a background in Western percussion from the University of Michigan and is a hand drum specialist whose primary focus is on Middle Eastern and North African percussion. He also performs and records in Renaissance, jazz, world music and other creative musical settings, and has synthesized this variety of influences to create a unique and individual voice. His solo CD Touch, released under the Victor label, was voted “Best Popular Album of 2002” in Japan and has been released on DVD as well.

Performing together with Shoko Araya as the “Chris & Shoko Percussion Duo”, a Tokyo-based international percussion duo that is widely recognized for its musical achievements and captivating audiences with its exciting and creative performances of percussion music, they have been featured performers at The Edinburgh Music Festival, Lincoln Center and at major?music festivals in Japan. Together, "Chris & Shoko" have produced and performed numerous percussion scores for theater and dance including the music for events commemorating “The 1200th Year of Kyoto’s Founding” and “America & Japan, 50 Years of Peace Since the End of W.W. II”, both command performances for the Emperor and Empress of Japan. They have also composed and performed stage adaptations of Yukio Mishima’s “Dojoji” (funded by the Japanese Ministry of Culture) and So Kitamura’s “Kaguya Hime” and “Otogi Zoshi”.
Christopher Hardy website - http://www.christopherhardymusic.com/

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3/25/06: Kaori Fujii Trio

Led by imaginative flautist Kaori Fujii and featuring pianist Bruce Stark, the trio performs a program of baroque, contemporary, and jazz music. Part of the Arts of Japan Celebration.

Kaori Fujii Trio

Led by imaginative flautist Kaori Fujii and featuring pianist Bruce Stark, the trio performs a program of baroque, contemporary, and jazz music. Part of the Arts of Japan Celebration.

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