Makoto Nakura
Marimba
In 1994, Makoto Nakura became the first marimbist to win the Young Concert Artists International Auditions. His critically acclaimed performances around the world have included venues in London, Rome, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Seoul and Ho Chi Minh City. In the U.S., he has performed in 40 of the 50 states with orchestras such as the New York Chamber Symphony, the Chicago Sinfonietta and the California Symphony. As a recital soloist, his long list of appearances includes Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall, New York’s 92nd Street Y and Washington’s Kennedy Center. Mr. Nakura has appeared with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Cente, the Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival, the Spoleto USA Festival, the Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival, and Music from Angel Fire.
He has established himself as a dedicated champion of the music of our time. Many leading young composers such as Kevin Puts, Kenji Bunch, Carlos Sanchez-Gutierrez, Pierre Jalbert, Michael Torke, David Schober and Jason Eckardt have written pieces especially for him.
Born in Kobe, Japan, he began to play the marimba at the age of eight. He earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Musashino College in Tokyo, where he wrote his graduate thesis on the marimba as a solo instrument. He continued his studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London. His recent honors include a National Arts Festival New Artist Award from the Japanese Agency of Cultural Affairs and the BMI/Carlos Surinach Fund Marimba Commission. His first CD, “Ritual Protocol,” was released by Kleos Classics. It was followed by “Tsuneya Tanabe Works for Marimba,” released by Japan’s ALM Records, and “Triple Jump: Six Original Pieces for Marimba,” also by Kleos. Virtually every composition on all three discs was written for Mr. Nakura. His newest CD of Bach transcriptions, “Bach Beat,” was released by Kleos in 2008.
www.makotonakura.com
(As of June 2009)
He has established himself as a dedicated champion of the music of our time. Many leading young composers such as Kevin Puts, Kenji Bunch, Carlos Sanchez-Gutierrez, Pierre Jalbert, Michael Torke, David Schober and Jason Eckardt have written pieces especially for him.
Born in Kobe, Japan, he began to play the marimba at the age of eight. He earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Musashino College in Tokyo, where he wrote his graduate thesis on the marimba as a solo instrument. He continued his studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London. His recent honors include a National Arts Festival New Artist Award from the Japanese Agency of Cultural Affairs and the BMI/Carlos Surinach Fund Marimba Commission. His first CD, “Ritual Protocol,” was released by Kleos Classics. It was followed by “Tsuneya Tanabe Works for Marimba,” released by Japan’s ALM Records, and “Triple Jump: Six Original Pieces for Marimba,” also by Kleos. Virtually every composition on all three discs was written for Mr. Nakura. His newest CD of Bach transcriptions, “Bach Beat,” was released by Kleos in 2008.
www.makotonakura.com
(As of June 2009)
