Photo credit: Michelle Belliveau
“Yoko and I are delighted to welcome you. Since we are new here, I was thinking—what should you know about us? The important thing is this: WE LOVE MUSIC,” said Shinsuke Sugiyama, The Ambassador of Japan, who hosted a Gala Evening to benefit Young Concert Artists of Washington at his residence along with his wife Yoko. “Our son started playing piano at age 3 and is a very good pianist. He still practices—even with four children. Our daughter also started playing piano when she was three. She was very good, but what’s interesting is that her happiness migrated toward color rather than sound, so she is a fashion designer in New York. Yoko says that I’m just being a proud father…but I honestly believe that both our kids have perfect pitch. Yoko herself loves opera…but we argue because I loved it before she did, so I think I love it more.”
Didi Cutler, Gilan Corn, Susan Wadsworth, Amb Shinsuke Sugiyama, Mayuko Kamio, Jennifer Bilfield, Joel Friedman
As for The Ambassador’s favorite musicians: He loves Edita Gruberova, the soprano. He loves the Latvian violinist, Gidon Markusovich Kremer. He loves Astor Piazzolla, who revolutionized the tango by bringing elements from jazz and classical music. He loves Maestro Valery Gergiev and the Marinsky Orchestra. And he loves Japanese violinist Mayuko Kamio. “I am very excited Ms. Kamio is here to perform for us and I am delighted to welcome you to this evening of music celebrating Young Concert Artists of Washington. There is no place else I would rather be this evening than right here with you, my fellow music lovers.”
Mayuko Kamio with pianist Noreen Plera
Now in its 39th season at the Kennedy Center, Young Concert Artists of Washington presents the Debuts of exceptionally talented young musicians, all Winners of the annual Young Concert Artists International Auditions. Among the artists who made their Kennedy Center debuts through YCA include soprano Dawn Upshaw, pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet, pianist Jeremy Denk and mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke. Since 1961, YCA has been launching the careers of musicians from all over the world who now perform on every major concert and opera stage in the world. This long history includes the discovery of noted Japanese and Japanese-American musicians such as violinist Anne Akiko Meyers and the Tokyo String Quartet. Mayuko was the First Prize Winner of the 2000 Young Concert Artists International Auditions. She made her concerto debut in Tokyo at the age of ten under the baton of Charles Dutoit, in a concert broadcast on NHK television. Since then, she has appeared as soloist with the Boston Pops conducted by Keith Lockhart, the Tonhalle Orchestra in Zurich with Mstislav Rostropovich, and the Israel Philharmonic under Zubin Mehta.
Mayuko Kamio, Susan Wadsworth (Founder and Director, Young Concert Artists, Inc.)
“It is truly an honor to stand here before you tonight and know you are in for a very special treat in listening to Mayuko Kamio,” said Aniko Gaal Schott (co-host of the evening with Didi Cutler) at The Young Concert Artists of Washington Gala Benefit. “She is the Gold Medal winner of the Tchaikovsky competition in Moscow. In a world where there is so much disquiet, it is nice to have an oasis and a retreat for a few minutes…. to lift our spirit and senses. Ms. Kameo’s performance will do just that…especially against the backdrop of this beautiful residence. I would also like to acknowledge the presence of two very special underwriters; one is Mozarteum Brasileiro—who’s famous and whose well known for concerts in Trancoso Brasil; and a special thank you to L’Occitane’s owner and CEO ‘Reynold Geiger, Honorary president of Mozarteum Brasilero who very graciously supported us this year. Mr. Geiger continues to champion musical education and believes in promoting young musicians worldwide!”
Didi Cutler, Mayuko Kamio, Aniko Gaal Schott, The Ambassador of Japan
Guests included Robert Bennett, Esq. and Ellen Bennett, Mr. & Mrs. Calvin Cafritz, Dr. Milton Corn & Mrs. Gilan Tocco Corn (Chairman of the Board of Directors, Young Concert Artists of Washington), Hon. Lloyd Hand & Ann Hand, Fumiya Igarashi and Takao Ose (Imperial Hotel, Tokyo), Ineke & Peter Kreeger, Hon. Mary V. Mochary, Mr. & Mrs. William Nitze, The Ambassador of Hungary, H.E. László Szabó, & Dr. Ivonn Szeverényi, Annie Totah and Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Woodcock.
In concert: Click on Violinist below
