Yuko Yoshikawa

Yuko Yoshikawa is an active performer based in Boston, Massachusetts, with a wide repertoire of marimba percussion literatures.

As a committed contemporary musician, Yuko has commissioned and premiered solo marimba and chamber works by composers including Dana Brayton, Pius Cheung, Lachlan Fife, Alfred Marra, Lior Navok, Cayenna Ponchione, Rudolf Rojahn and Akie Takada.

Yuko is also a contracted musician at Sutton Entertainment Services and Graves Live Entertainment. She has been invited to Music Festivals including KoSA X, SMARTS Institute, and the Zeltsman Marimba Festival. Yuko has performed with orchestras and bands including Rhythmusa with Dave Samuels as a part of Berklee Percussion Festival Concerts, Binghamton Community Orchestra (NY), Middlesex Concert Band (MA), and was one of soloists for The Creation by Cayenna Ponchione performed at PASIC (Percussive Arts Society International Convention).

Yuko is 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 the International Marimba Competition Belgium (2004).

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

Yuko endorses Marimba One.