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| Kiyoshi Shomura |
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Kiyoshi Shomura, Guitar |
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Known for his brilliant technique and outstanding musicality, Kiyoshi Shomura can reasonably be thought of as the leading representative of the Japanese guitar world. He began lessons at the age of nine, studying first with his father, Masato Shomura, and later with Yasumasa Ohara. In 1963 he met the renowned guitarist Narciso Yepes who was on tour in Japan. Yepes immediately recognized Shomura's potential and invited him to Spain to study with him.
Mr. Shomura soon went on to establish his professional reputation in Europe, particularly Italy, performing approximately forty highly acclaimed recitals throughout this country between 1967 and 1969. After giving his 1969 recital debut in Japan, he returned to Italy as the Japanese representative at the 1971 World Youth Association International, and continued recitals abroad with a twenty-eight-city tour throughout North America. Returning to his home country, he received popular recognition for his appearances on the NHK Television series ‘Let's play the guitar.'
Mr. Shomura's great desire is to show the many facets of the guitar to audiences and thus his concerts cover wide range of musical styles. In addition to solo recitals and performances with Japan's major orchestras and visiting groups such as Ensemble Archi della Scala, Mr. Shomura often collaborates with fellow artists - singers, flautists, pianists, violinist etc - to perform duo and trio concerts. His 2004 Japan tour with popular actress Kyoko Kishida, entitled The Garden of Guitar and the Written Word and based around Castelnuovo-Tedesco's Platero y Yo received great acclaim from both audiences and critics.
A keen advocate of contemporary works for guitar has commissioned and premiered music by many Japanese composers. He is particularly known for his recordings and performances of music by the late Toru Takemitsu, whose Equinox (1993) and the three pieces for guitar In the Woods (1995) were written especially for him.
Kiyoshi Shomura recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of his career as a guitarist, with a series of recitals throughout Japan and the release of his album Milonga del Angel, the latest of his many recordings for the Toshiba EMI Label.
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