Young Japanese violist opens PPO's 28th Concert Season
MANILA, Philippines - Sayaka Kokubo, Japanese violist of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, performs with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) as it opens its 28th Concert Season 2010-2011 dubbed as “Bold Strokes, New Growth” on Sept. 10, 8 p.m., at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (Main Theater).
PPO’s new music director, maestro Olivier Ochanine conducts.
The PPO opens the season with “La Musique Française” from Berlioz’s Harold in Italy, Milhaud’s Le Boeuf sur le Toit, Honegger’s Pastorale d’Ete, and Ravel’s well-loved Bolero.
Born in Tokyo, Japan, Kokubo studied at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music and later took advance studies at the University of Southern California and Colburn School Conservatory. She earned her master’s degree at the University of Cincinnati, College Conservatory of Music in 2007. She has performed with the Music Academy of the West Orchestra, String Ensemble Geigen, Louisville Symphony Orchestra, University of Southern California, Tokyo Geidai Philharmonic Orchestra, Ensemble of Tokyo, Kanazawa Philharmonic Orchestra, Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, among others. Kokubo, whose Paganini was referred to as “dazzling” by The America Viola Society magazine, received numerous prizes and awards from many competitions and foundations including the Primrose International Competition, Pasadena Instrumental Competition, Gee CCM Scholarship Competition, Carmel Music Society Competition, Music Academy of the West Concerto Competition, Ohmagari Music Competition, Maestro Foundation, Colburn Foundation, Tokyo Geidai University Concerto University, and Leni Febland Foundation. Her radio appearances include KUSC, K-Mozart, and KCBX. Ms. Kokubo studied under well-known artists Masao Kawasaki, Masaoki Inoue, Toshiyuki Uzuka, Donald McInnes, Ralph Fielding, Robert Lipsett and Ronald Leonard. The Peninsula Review praised Ms. Kokubo’s playing as “The real tour de force…mature polished playing that was truly artistic and simply the best viola playing.”
Ticket prices are P1,000, P800, P500, P350 and P200, with discounts available to students, senior citizens and groups. Subscription packages are also available for eight or four shows. For inquiries, call the CCP Marketing Department (832-1125 loc. 1806), the CCP Box Office (832-3704) or Ticketworld at National Bookstore (891-9999), or visit www.cultural center.gov.ph.
