Kazuma Miura Tokyo Grand Soloists

The Tokyo Grand Soloists is a dream chamber orchestra formed by young bandoneon player Kazuma Miura and a select group of classical soloists.

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Member Profiles

Kazuma Miura (Bandoneon)

He began playing the bandoneon at the age of 10. In 2006, he met Nestor Marconi, the pinnacle of the bandoneon world, at the Beppu Argerich Music Festival. He then used the proceeds from his self-produced CD to fund his trip to Argentina, where he has been studying under Marconi ever since. In 2008, he became the first Japanese and youngest person in history to win the runner-up prize at the International Piazzolla Competition. In 2014, he received the Idus Music Award. In 2017, he formed his own chamber orchestra, the Tokyo Grand Soloists. In 2022, he released the album “Piazzolla Standards & Beyond” with the Miura Kazuma Quintet, a fitting finale to the Piazzolla Year, through Nippon Columbia. He has also been involved in the music for the NHK Taiga drama “Aozora o Tsuke,” and is gaining attention as a young, talented bandoneon player.

 

Yasunao Ishida (solo violin)

Graduated at the top of his class from the National University of Music, and at the same time received the Yatabe Award. After serving as concertmaster of the New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, he became solo concertmaster of the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra in 2001. Since then, he has become the “face of the Kanagawa Philharmonic” and currently serves as chief solo concertmaster, bearing the weight of that responsibility. He has received the Kanagawa Culture Award Future Prize and the Yokohama Culture Award Culture and Arts Encouragement Prize. He has also shown his unique brilliance in various ensembles, including the YAMATO String Quartet, which he has been a member of since its formation, and “Ishida-gumi,” a string ensemble consisting solely of male musicians that he produced himself. Since April 2020, he has also served as the special guest concertmaster of the Kyoto Symphony Orchestra. His latest album, “PIAZZOLA LIVE,” was released in December 2021. In June 2022, he published his first book, “Be a Human Being Before Being a Musician!” His instruments are a 1690 G. Tononi and a 1726 M. Goffriller.  

  

Shioda Shu (Violin)

Born in Boston, USA. Earned a master's degree from the New England Conservatory of Music in 2004. Has performed with the Seiji Ozawa Music Academy Orchestra Project, Opera Project, and Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival. Guest concertmaster of the Hyogo Prefectural Cultural Center Orchestra and guest principal second violinist of the Kyoto Symphony Orchestra. Joined the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra in 2014.

 

Niwa Yosuke (Violin)

Began playing the violin at the age of 7. Graduated from Tokyo Metropolitan Arts High School and studied at Tokyo University of the Arts. Studied abroad in Vienna while in college. Won an award at the Dihler Competition. Joined the NHK Symphony Orchestra in 2007. Studied under Motoko Sato, Ryoko Yasui, Kiyoshi Okayama, Fuminori Shinozaki, and Edward Tsenkovsky.

 

Suzuki Koji (Violin)

Born in Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture. Began playing the violin at the age of 2. Studied under Yoshiko Hattori and Evard Danel at the Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts and Music. Joined the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra upon graduating from the university in 2008. After serving as concertmaster of the orchestra from 2012 to 2016, he joined the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra in 2017. He has participated in the Asia Philharmonic Orchestra, the Afinis Summer Music Festival, and other events.

 

Sohei Birmann (violin)

Born in Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture. After graduating from the Tokyo University of the Arts, he graduated from the Lausanne Higher School of Music in Switzerland. He completed his master's degree at the same university. He also completed the academy course at Sinfonietta de Lausanne in Lausanne. He studied under Akira Yamamoto, Chihiro Kudo, Kazuki Sawa, Takashi Shimizu, and Pierre Amoyal. At the age of 8, he won the Gold Prize and Encouragement Prize at the Kyoto Music Competition. He also won third place in the All-Japan Student Music Competition (junior high school division). Won the Japan Performers Competition. Won the YBP International Competition. Won third place in the Osaka International Competition. Joined the orchestra in 2016. Principal second violinist of the New Japan Philharmonic.

 

Yoshitaka Hirooka (violin)

Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts in 1998. While still a student, he won the Ataka Prize and studied abroad at the New England Conservatory of Music. Upon graduation, he joined the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra as assistant concertmaster. Currently, he is active mainly with the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, but also performs as a guest concertmaster, soloist, and chamber musician with many other orchestras, including the Osaka Philharmonic, Kanagawa Philharmonic, Kyoto Symphony Orchestra, and Sendai Philharmonic. He has also been teaching at Tokai University since 2004.

 

Nasuda Gen (Violin)

Graduated from Toho Gakuen School of Music. He has performed in various concerts since his student days. Currently, he performs with the K Ballet Company's resident orchestra and numerous professional orchestras in Japan, and is active in various fields such as solo performances, chamber music, studio recordings, live support, arranging, and recording engineering.

 

Tamura Akihiro (Violin)

Born in Yamaguchi Prefecture. Won second place at the 45th Yamaguchi Prefecture Student Music Competition. Graduated from the Instrumental Music Department of the National University of Music in 2003. Since his student days, he has been actively involved in a wide range of activities, including guest appearances with orchestras, chamber music, live support, and music program recordings. He has performed at the Kusatsu Summer International Music Festival and the Hofu Music Festival. Since 2004, he has been a violinist with the Japan Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra.

 

Fukutome Fumihiro (Violin)

Graduated from the National University of Music. Won numerous awards, including the Excellence Award in the Ensemble Division at the 4th Osaka International Music Competition, 1st place in the Chamber Music Division at the 9th JILA Music Competition, and the Best Performer Award at the 5th Japan Ensemble Competition. Passed the PMF String Quartet Course audition and performed with the Tokyo Quartet. Studied violin under Yoko Suga, Shizuko Fukuzaki, the late Chikashi Tanaka, Fumiaki Shinozaki, and Rainer Schmidt. Second violinist of the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra.  

 

Murai Toshiro (Violin)

After graduating from Kyoto Municipal Horikawa High School Music Department and Toho Gakuen University, he studied at the Vienna Conservatory. After returning to Japan, he has been active as a freelance musician, performing as a guest concertmaster and principal violinist, while also participating in numerous recordings as a studio musician.

 

Shohei Yamamoto (Violin)

Graduated from Toho Gakuen University and its graduate school. Joined the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra in 2007. In addition to orchestral performances, he actively engages in solo and chamber music performances. In particular, as a member of Quartetto Hymnus, he received grants from the Matsuo Academic Revival Foundation in 2012 and 2015. He won the “Green Wind Music Award” at the Resonare Chamber Music Workshop. Currently serves as associate principal second violinist of the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra.

 

Masaki Shono (Viola)

Graduated at the top of his class from the Instrumental Music Department of Senzoku Gakuen College of Music and completed graduate studies at the same university. Won second prize at the Salzburg-Mozart International Chamber Music Competition. Released a solo album, “Nostalgic Melodies,” through Warner Music Japan. He has appeared as guest principal with major orchestras throughout Japan, including the Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra, Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra, Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, and Yamagata Symphony Orchestra. He is also active as a soloist, chamber musician, and in various genres of tours and recordings.

 

Kintaro Hagiya (Viola)

Born in Tokyo, he graduated from Tokyo College of Music and completed his studies at Toho Gakuen Graduate School. 바이올린은 후루야 하마오에게, 비올라는 모모타케 유키에게, 실내악은 우에다 하루코와 이와사키 코우에게 사사했다. PMF