Koto
Born in Morioka, Japan in 1975, Yumi Kurosawa began studying the 13-stringed-Koto from the age of three under her parents, Kazuo and Chikako Kurosawa. At the age of fifteen she was drawn to the contemporary sound and technique of the 20-stringed-Koto and began studying the 20-stringed-Koto under Nanae Yoshimura, and classical Koto music under Sosui Yoshimura.
Kurosawa received first prize at National Koto competition for students, Japan in 1989 and 1992. She performed a duet with Evjan Rattai of Prague Cello Ensemble at Suntory Hall, Tokyo in 1993. Following extensive performances in Tokyo, she began performing in worldwide in concert tours to Canada, Germany, Malaysia, Russia, and United States. In 2002, she moved to New York in pursuit of new innovative collaborations with artists and musicians. Since that time she has appeared at a wide variety of NYC venues and artistic settings including the Bank Street Theater, the Japan Society, Roulette, The Juilliard School, Weill Recital Hall and Zankel Hall. She continues to perform in Japan as well and her first CD, featuring many of her own compositions, was released