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| Ayako Takagi |
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Ayako Takagi |
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Ayako Takagi is one of the most sought-after flutists of her generation in Japan.
Her technique, characteristic sound, flexibility, and musicianship, made her the most popular young Japanese flutist. She is the winner of numerous competitions and awards such as the 17th Japan Winds Competition (2000 / first prize), the 70th Japan Music Competition (2001 / first prize), and Nippon Steel Music Award (2001).
Ms. Takagi started piano lessons at the age of 3 and followed by flute lessons at the age of 8. A graduate from the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts, her teachers include Tomoe Nishimura, Kazuyoshi Hashimoto, Gerard Noack, Tetsuya Kosaka, Narumi Yamazaki, Chang-Kook Kim and P. Meisen.
Her distinguished talent in flute has been highly praised, ever since she
was a high school student. She has won numerous competitions and awards
such as the “Mainichi Shinbun All Japan Student Music Competition Tokyo”
(1995 / first prize), “Kobe International Flute Competition” (1997 / encouraging
award), “Yasutake Award” (1997), “Takarazuka Vega Competition” (1999 /
first prize), “Japan Flute Convention Competition” (1999 / first prize,
audience award), the “17th Japan Winds Competition” (2000 / first prize),
the “70th Japan Music Competition” (2001 / first prize), “Jean-Pierre Rampal
International Flute Competition” (2001 / 4th prize without 1st and 2nd
prize), and the “12th Nippon Steel Music Award” (2001), “Concours International
de Flûte Jean-Pierre Rampal” (2005/ 3rd prize), and “Kobe International
Flute Competition” (2005/ 3rd prize).
Ms. Takagi performs regularly in recitals, as both a member and soloist of chamber music ensembles, and as a soloist with orchestras. She has toured Japan as soloist of the I Solisti Filarmonici Italiani, Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra, Ensemble Archi Della Scala, and St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra. She made her debut in Paris as the soloist for Ensemble Orchestral de Paris in fall, 2004, and also performed for their Japan tour.
Ayako Takagi is also active in CD recordings. In March 2000, she made her CD debut by releasing two CD recordings, each of a different style. While one of them contains famous classical pieces for flute, the other contains songs of Japanese famous pop singer, Yumi Matsutoya. Her wide range of repertoire and her flexibility in music has impressed both critics and classical music fans.
To date, she has released 9 CDs. All of which has been highly acclaimed by critics and has made great sales record. Her latest CD, “To the Sea” was released in June 2005. The duo CD with a guitarist, Shin-ichi Fukuda, drew peoplefs attention.
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