Yuko is an active performer currently based in Somerville, having a wide range of repertoire for marimba and percussion. She has been performing in the Greater Boston area for more than 7 years, away from her home in Osaka, Japan.

Yuko began her musical training starting with piano at the age of three, percussion at nine, and marimba at fifteen. She holds a B.M. in percussion performance from Osaka College of Music in Japan, and a M.M. in marimba performance from The Boston Conservatory where she studied with world-renowned marimbist Nancy Zeltsman and Pat Hollenbeck, percussionist.

As a committed contemporary musician, Yuko takes an active interest in commissioning new music aiming to discover and collaborate with composers. She has commissioned and premiered solo marimba and chamber works by numerous composers such as Dana Brayton, Pius Cheung, Lachlan Fife, Alfred Marra, Lior Navok, Cayenna Ponchione,
Rudolf Rojahn, Akie Takada. She has been invited to Music Festivals including: KoSA X, SMARTS Institute, is Hih and Zeltsman Marimba Festival. She also has performed with orchestras and bands including Rhythmusa with Dave Samuels at Berklee Percussion Festival Concert, Binghamton Community Orchestra (NY), Middlesex Concert Band (MA), also she was one of soloists for The Creation by Cayenna Ponchione performed at PASIC ‘04.

A recipient of several awards including: Winner of the Aspen Music Festival and School Solo Competition (2000), Artists prize at Naniwa Arts Foundation Festival (1999), and Winner of Graduation Solo Competition at Osaka College of Music (1999). She was also a semi-finalist in the World Marimba Competition in Stuttgart (2002) and semi-finalist in International Marimba Competition Belgium (2004).

Yuko currently teaches at Merry Melody Academy and is an artist of/endorsed by Marimba One.

http://www.marimba1.com/artists.html#yuko