Ayano Kataoka, percussion
Ayano Kataoka, leads her career as marimbist and percussionist who has a brilliant command of both dynamic and elegancy on her technique, artistry, and musicianship. Known for her artistic versatility, she regularly performs music of diverse genres and mediums. Last season, she collaborated Stravinsky's L'Histoire du Soldat with one of the most distinguished artists in their fields; a multiple award-winning actor Alan Alda and known for his role as Dr. John Carter on the TV drama ER Noah Wyle at the 92nd Street Y, as well as a former member of the English rock band Pink Floyd Roger Waters at the Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival. Ms. Kataoka also performed for the Sonidos Latinos concert series at Caramoor Music Festival with Cuban-born clarinet and saxophone master Paquito D'Rivera, and Venezuelan flutist Marco Granados.
A native of Japan, Ms. Kataoka began her marimba studies at age five, and percussion at fifteen. She started her performance career as a marimbist with a tour of China at the age of nine. In past seasons she appeared with Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble at Carnegie Hall, Jaime Laredo at the 92nd Street Y, and Susan Narucki at the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival. Ms. Kataoka presented her debut solo recital at Tokyo Opera City Recital Hall, where she is going to return and perform for their prestigious " B to C (Bach to Contemporary)" recital series in summer 2009.
An avid musician, Ms. Kataoka has delivered several premieres by today's leading composers, including Leon Kirchner, Paul Moravec, and Huang Ruo. She has been participating in several consortiums to commission works for solo marimba or chamber ensemble from such composers as Charles Wuorinen, Martin Bresnick, Alejandro Vinao, and Lukas Ligeti. Ms. Kataoka is particularly drawn to compositions that involve the whole person, using standard percussion instruments and unique musical materials along with spoken voice, singing and acting, and elegant props. She has given numerous performances and master classes featuring Stuart Saunders Smith's percussion/theatre music throughout the United States and Canada, at such educational institutes as the Eastman School of Music, the Oberlin Conservatory, University of California San Diego, New York University, Stony Brook University, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of North Texas, Bowling Green State University, University of British Columbia, among others. Beyond classical music field, she has involved in the production of Shakespeare's play All's Well That Ends Well at Yale Repertory Theatre as an on-stage performer to play music and act.
Ms. Kataoka received her Bachelor of Music degree from the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts Music, her Master of Music degree from the Peabody Conservatory, and her Artist Diploma degree from the Yale School of Music, where she studied with Robert van Sice, the world-renowned marimba virtuoso. She is the first percussionist to be chosen for The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center's Chamber Music Society Two program. She recently joined the faculty of University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Ayano Kataoka
Upcoming Appearances at Chamber Music Society:
Finnish Voices: 3/16/2010
New Music in the Rose: 12/2/2010
Striking Sounds I: 4/29/2011
Striking Sounds II: 5/1/2011
Search for Ayano Kataoka CDs available for purchase at the Chamber Music Society
photo credit: Tristan Cook