Yumi Kurosawa was born and raised in Japan and began to study Koto when she was three. She received first prize at the National Competition for students in 1989 and 1992, and a scholarship from The Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan in 1998. Yumi played in the Prague Cello Ensemble Concert at Suntory Hall, Tokyo in 1996 and the NHK Broadcast TV program, Genjimonogatari-WAKANA, in 2000. As well as extensive performance in Japan, in 2002 she moved to New York, where she held her concert at Weill Recital Hall, Carnegie and continued to play in Japan as well where she premiered Koto Concerto Genji (composed by Daron Hagen) as a soloist, as well as with the Orchestra of the Swan in UK in 2011. Yumi has played this piece several times, collaborating with many genres of artists at the Apollo sound stage, Joe's pub, Highline ballroom, and as a member of the Bella Gaia ensemble. Her first original CD, Beginning of a Journey, featuring her own compositions, was released in 2009. She also studied computer music at the computer music lab when she was attending Keio University, creating songs with computer sound as well. She has received great concert reviews several times in the New York Times, The Washington Post as well as many others.

Beginning of a Journey

Tagged as: World, Other, Hammered Dulcimer, World Influenced.

1. Luke Gartner-Brereton: music for minds
2. Shira Kammen: early folk and celtic music.
3. Mundi: Early music meets global folk at the Penguin Café
4. Kara Nomadica: a fresh new sound driven by traditional Arabic and Turkish rhythms
5. Kammen and Swan: a bright edge to traditional Celtic tunes
6. To Life!: Music as a journey through tribal landscapes, rhythmic dance, hypnotic trance.
7. Barry Phillips: Scandinavian folkish cello
8. Beth Quist: electro-Balkan / Indian meets New Age.
9. Aryeh Frankfurter: Timeless and enchanting folk music for the soul
10. Cheryl Ann Fulton: World-class performer and teacher of Medieval, Baroque, Welsh triple, Celtic and Concert harps.
11. Fiddle Whamdiddle: foot-stomping, heart-pumping, head-bobbing music that snags audiences and reels them in!
12. Viva La Pepa: Spanish, Sephardic and French traditions served on a bed of drones
13. Kitka: Eastern European women's vocal music
14. Aryeh Frankfurter and Lisa Lynne: Two Worlds, One Music
15. Almer and Nirvan: soulful Balkan duo featuring acoustic guitars and voice
16. Jeremy Moyer: Erhu music bridging Eastern, Western, Contemporary and Folk traditions
17. Skarazula: medieval European, Turkish and Arabic music
18. Erik Ask Upmark: Scandinavian music on the Celtic harp
19. Tim Rayborn: Medieval and Middle Eastern music
20. Jamie Janover: innovative hammered dulcimer