THE WOODBRIDGE MUSIC CLUB
presents
Makoto Nakura, Marimbist

Friday, May 15, 2009, at 7:00 PM
Westminster at Lake Ridge
12191 Clipper Drive,
Lake Ridge, VA 22192

-&-

Monday, May 18, 2009, at 7:30 PM
Grace United Methodist Church
9750 Wellington Rd
Manassas, VA 20110

Makoto Nakura is a musician whose artistry and astonishing virtuosity has been mesmerizing audiences for decades. He creates innovative programs of new music as well as traditional classical repertoire, revealing the versatility and expressive range of the marimba while enlightening and entertaining the listener. His extraordinary communicative power and poetic musicality is inspirational.



　
In 1994, Makoto Nakura moved from his native Japan to New York City, becoming the first marimbist to win First Prize in the prestigious Young Concert Artists International Auditions. His critically acclaimed performances around the world have included venues in London, Rome, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Seoul and Ho Chi Minh City. In the U.S., he has performed for audiences in 40 of the 50 states with orchestras such as the New York Chamber Symphony, the Chicago Sinfonietta and the California Symphony. As a recital soloist, his long list of appearances includes Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall, New York’s 92nd Street Y and Washington’s Kennedy Center. In addition, Mr. Nakura has been a guest artist with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and appeared in the Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival, Spoleto USA Festival, Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival, and Music from Angel Fire.

He also has been developing collaborative works with other art forms. With the American Ballet Theatre, he has performed numerous occasions in New York City, including appearances at the Metropolitan Opera House, the Kaye Playhouse and at City Center, where he was soloist in a new production of "Marimba." With the spoken word, he commissioned and premiered Carlos Sanchez-Gutierrez’s “The Ocean Calls” based on poems by Pablo Neruda. With story-telling image projection, he created “The Story of Aoyagi” which is a venerable Japanese ghost story.

In September 2007, Makoto produced a concert called “The Encounter of Art and Music” with the Hyogo Prefectural Art Museum in Japan; he played pieces inspired by Paul Klee, Jackson Pollock, and Wilem De Kooning and others with projections of their paintings and commentary by a museum curator as well as the marimbist.

Mr. Nakura has established himself as a dedicated champion of the music of our time. Many leading young composers such as Kevin Puts, Kenji Bunch, Carlos Sanchez-Gutierrez, Pierre Jalbert, Michael Torke, David Schober and Jason Eckardt have written pieces especially for him. This marimbist’s mission is to explore and expand the possibilities of the instrument, demonstrate what an exciting and provocative vehicle it offers to composers, and provide a thrilling experience for audiences.

Born in Kobe, Japan, Mr. Nakura began to play the marimba at the age of eight. He earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Musashino College in Tokyo, where he wrote his graduate thesis on the marimba as a solo instrument. He continued his studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London. He has been invited to the Hong Kong Academy for the Performing Arts four times to serve as a visiting consultant for Percussion Studies and perform recitals. Indeed, because of his strong commitment to reaching younger audiences, he conducts many master classes and workshops at schools such as the Eastman School of Music and the Royal Academy of Music, among many others.

His recent honors include a National Arts Festival New Artist Award from the Japanese Agency of Cultural Affairs and the BMI/Carlos Surinach Fund Marimba Commission. He was named an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music in London. His first CD, “Ritual Protocol,” was released by Kleos Classics. It was followed by “Tsuneya Tanabe Works for Marimba,” released by Japan’s ALM Records, and “Triple Jump: Six Original Pieces for Marimba,” also by Kleos. Virtually every composition on all three discs was written for Mr. Nakura. His newest CD, “Bach Beat” is to be released by Kleos in 2008. The five Bach transcriptions by Mr. Nakura himself were recorded by superior SACD and surround sound system.


A network television portrait of Mr. Nakura was broadcast across the U.S. on CBS Sunday Morning. His recitals have been widely televised by KBS (Korea) and NHK (Japan) and played on many radio stations.

The Woodbridge Music Club is an affiliate of the Virginia Federation of Music Clubs, and of the National Federation of Music Clubs. Events are supported in part by a grant from the Prince William County Park Authority. The Woodbridge Music Club is pleased to serve the citizens of Prince William County by sponsoring performances, student recitals, and student music competitions.