＜Member Profile＞

Kazuma Miura, Bandoneon

Began playing bandoneon at age 10. In 2006, he met Nestor Marconi, the pinnacle of the bandoneon world, at the Beppu Argerich Music Festival. He subsequently funded his trip to Argentina using proceeds from his self-produced CD and has studied under Marconi ever since. In 2008, he became the first Japanese and youngest runner-up in the history of the International Piazzolla Competition. He received the 2014 Idemitsu Music Award. In 2017, he founded the chamber orchestra “Tokyo Grand Solistes,” which he leads. In 2022, he released the album “Piazzolla: Standard & Beyond” with the Kazuma Miura Quintet on Nippon Columbia, a fitting finale to the Piazzolla Year. He is gaining attention across various fields as a talented young bandoneon player, including performing the travelogue music for the NHK historical drama “Soten wo Tsuke.”

 

Tatsuo Nishie, Violin

Concertmaster of the New Japan Philharmonic and Bandmaster of Joe Hisaishi Future Band. Studied under Akiko Tatsumi from childhood, completing the Toho Gakuen Soloist Diploma Course. Studied abroad in Switzerland under Tibor Varga, inheriting his method. Studied chamber music under Toru Yasunaga and Ayumi Ichino. In 2001, he was appointed Concertmaster of the Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra, winning the SPC Grand Prize, the Green Wind Music Award with the Sereno String Quartet, and the Matsuo Music Grant. Appointed Concertmaster of the New Japan Philharmonic in 2005, he has also performed as a soloist with orchestras in Japan and abroad under conductors including Christian Arming, Günter Pichler, Yuzo Toyama, Douglas Bostock, and Yutaka Sado. He has also been invited to perform chamber music with artists such as Mischa Maisky and Giuseppe Andarolo, and to participate in music festivals across the country. He has appeared as guest concertmaster with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra and the NHK Symphony Orchestra. In 2016, he made a guest appearance on the TV program “Music Without Titles” with pianist Hiromi Uehara. He performed as soloist on Joe Hisaishi's “Chamber Symphony” using a six-string electric violin, giving the world premiere. In 2020 and 2021, he appeared as a member of the Hiromi Piano Quintet at Blue Note Tokyo for “Save Live Music Returns.” He has performed at the Fuji Rock Festival and toured nationwide. His extensive discography has been well-received.

 

Sohei Birmann, Violin

Born in Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture. Graduated from the Music Department of Tokyo University of the Arts, then from the Haute École de Musique de Lausanne in Switzerland. Completed the Master's program at the same institution. Completed the Academy program of the Sinfonietta de Lausanne in Lausanne. Studied under Akira Yamamoto, Chihiro Kudo, Kazuki Sawa, Takashi Shimizu, and Pierre Amoyal. Won 3rd Prize in the All Japan Student Music Competition (Junior High School Division). Winner of the Japan Performers Competition. Winner of the YBP International Competition. Won 3rd Prize in the Osaka International Competition. Joined the orchestra in 2016. Principal Second Violinist of the New Japan Philharmonic.

 

Masaki Shono, Viola

Born in Oita Prefecture in 1978. Began viola at age 14. Graduated top of his class from Senzoku Gakuen College of Music after attending Oita Prefectural Arts Midorigaoka High School, and completed graduate studies at the same university. Studied under Hiroshi Uchida and Nobuo Okada. Won 2nd prize at the Salzburg-Mozart International Chamber Music Competition. Passed the Japan Performing Arts Federation audition and performed with the Kyushu Symphony Orchestra. Released three solo albums and the four-disc box set “Nostalgic Melodies” through Wanar Music Japan. Has appeared as guest principal with major orchestras nationwide, including the Tokyo Philharmonic, Tokyo City Philharmonic, Kanagawa Philharmonic, Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra, Yamagata Symphony Orchestra, Osaka Philharmonic, and Sendai Philharmonic. Temporarily suspended activities in 2016 to study in Germany. In 2019, he served as solo violist for the orchestra at the Imperial Enthronement Ceremony. Currently, he focuses on guest appearances with orchestras, chamber music, and solo activities, while also participating in Taro Hakase tours and recordings across various genres. He is a member of Ishida-gumi, Trio AXIS, Subaru 21 String Quartet, Tokyo Grand Soloists, and serves as solo principal violist for the RENTARO Chamber Orchestra Kyushu.

 

Rentaro Tomioka, Cello

Born in Sapporo in 1986. Graduated from Toho Girls' High School Music Department and Toho Gakuen University, then completed the MASP program at the Basel Music Academy. Studied cello under Yoshiro Uehara and Hiroo Mouri, and string quartet under Rainer Schmidt. 2006 Founded the Wales String Quartet. 2008 Third Prize, Quartet Category, ARD International Music Competition, Munich. 2011 Third Prize, String Quartet Category, 7th Osaka International Chamber Music Competition. Performs extensively with the Wales String Quartet and as guest principal cellist with major orchestras, appearing in numerous concerts and music festivals both domestically and internationally. Served as Guest Principal Cellist of the Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra from June 2014 to March 2017. Principal Cellist of the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra since November 2017.

​

Yota Takahashi, Contrabass

After graduating from Toho Gakuen School of Music, he completed its graduate program in 2006. He joined the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra the same year. He received the Aomori City Cultural Award in 2005. His debut recitals in Tokyo and Aomori in 2007 were met with critical acclaim. His 10th-anniversary recital in 2016 was praised as “approaching the instrument with great care and confronting the score with humility” (Ongaku no Tomo, December 2016 issue). He has frequently performed at music festivals including the Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival, Tokyo Spring Music Festival, Kirishima International Music Festival, and Afinis Summer Music Festival. Currently, in addition to his role as a musician with the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, he is invited as principal player by the Asia Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Myung-Whun Chung and various other orchestras. His diverse activities include performing as a member and soloist with ensembles such as the quintet led by bandoneonist Kazuma Miura, the Tokyo Grand Solists, FutureOrchestraClassics (produced by Joe Hisaishi), and MusicFuture. He has also featured in the magazine “Tarzan,” introducing physical maintenance techniques for musicians. In March 2022, he released his debut album featuring the world's first double bass recording of Astor Piazzolla's “The History of the Tango.”

​

Shushi Kyomasu, Piano

Born in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture. Began piano at age 4. Graduated top of his class from the Piano Department, Instrumental Music Division, Faculty of Music, Tokyo University of the Arts, receiving the Ataka Prize, Geidai Clavier Award, Acanthus Music Award, Doseikai Award, and Mitsubishi Estate Award. Upon completing his Master's degree at the Graduate School of Music, Tokyo University of the Arts, he received the Geidai Clavier Award and the Graduate School Acanthus Music Award. Awarded a Diploma at the 18th International Chopin Piano Competition in 2021. Competed in the Piano Division of the 2022 Long-Thibaud International Music Competition. Finalist in the Dispatch Division of the 5th Chopin International Piano Competition in ASIA. Gold Prize, Group D, Piano Solo Division, 18th Young Artist Piano Competition. Third Prize, Junior High School Division, Tokyo Regional Competition, 65th All-Japan Student Music Competition. First Prize and Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award, 60th All Tohoku Piano Competition. Performed in the 44th Geidai Chamber Music Series. Has performed with the Geidai Philharmonia Orchestra and the Prima Vista String Quartet (Poland), and has appeared in numerous concerts including solo recitals at venues such as Hamarikyu Asahi Hall, Yamaha Hall, and the Akasaka Guest House. Studied piano under Tetsuro Ishikawa, Shinnosuke Tashiro, and Yuya Tsuda.