Ryu Goto
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese-American concert violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....

ist. Goto gained attention as a child prodigy
Child prodigy
A child prodigy is someone who, at an early age, masters one or more skills far beyond his or her level of maturity. One criterion for classifying prodigies is: a prodigy is a child, typically younger than 18 years old, who is performing at the level of a highly trained adult in a very demanding...

, first performing at the age of seven in the Pacific Music Festival held in Sapporo, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

. His debut tour of 12 cities of Japan, in 2006, was sold out.

Early life

Both of Goto's parents are violinists. His older (by 17 years) sister, Midori
Midori Goto
is a Japanese American violinist. She made her debut at the age of 11 in a last-minute change of programming during a concert highlighting young performers by the New York Philharmonic under Zubin Mehta. When she was 21, she formed the philanthropic group Midori and Friends to help bring music to...

, is an internationally renowned violinist.

Goto began playing violin at age three. He credits his mother for both his and his sister's success as musicians.

Career

Goto has performed internationally as a soloist with the London Symphony Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra
The London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:...

, the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra is a Grammy Award-winning classical music chamber orchestra based in New York City. It is known for its collaborative leadership style in which the musicians, not a conductor, interpret the score....

, the Shanghai Philharmonic, the U.S. National Symphony Orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra
London Philharmonic Orchestra
The London Philharmonic Orchestra , based in London, is one of the major orchestras of the United Kingdom, and is based in the Royal Festival Hall. In addition, the LPO is the main resident orchestra of the Glyndebourne Festival Opera...

, the Toscanini Symphonica in Italy, the Bamberg Symphony, New Symphony Orchestra (Bulgaria), the European Union Youth Orchestra
European Union Youth Orchestra
The European Union Youth Orchestra is a training orchestra for young people in the European Union. It is funded centrally by the European Union and by a number of EU member states...

, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra is a Canadian orchestra performing in Vancouver, British Columbia. Over 240,000 people attend its live performances each year. It was founded in 1930 and plays in 12 venues. Its home is the Orpheum theatre. With an annual operating budget of $9.5 million, it is the...

, and the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra of South Africa

Goto performed at the World Trade Center site during the official September 11 commemoration ceremony in 2003 and at the peace memorial concerts in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 2005.

In 2005, Universal Music signed Goto to its Deutsche Grammophon
Deutsche Grammophon
Deutsche Grammophon is a German classical record label which was the foundation of the future corporation to be known as PolyGram. It is now part of Universal Music Group since its acquisition and absorption of PolyGram in 1999, and it is also UMG's oldest active label...

 label.

In 2009, Goto played with the Ditto Ensemble in Korea, and was scheduled to appear with them in the summer of 2010 in Japan.

Currently a student at Harvard, Goto regularly plays with the Bach Society Orchestra
Bach Society Orchestra of Harvard University
The Bach Society Orchestra, known as BachSoc, is Harvard's premier chamber orchestra. The orchestra is staffed, managed, and conducted entirely by students. Each year, the members of the orchestra select the next year's conductor, always an undergraduate...

.

Playing style

Goto has been influenced by electric guitarists such as Jimi Hendrix, and sometimes uses an aggressive playing style described as "ferocious" or "fiery."

Personal life

Goto has a black belt in Karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...

 and is seeking a degree in Physics from Harvard, where he is a member of the Phoenix SK Club. He also plays guitar.

Discography

DVD:
  • Ryu Goto, Brahms Violin Concerto in D Major Op.77 – May 2006
  • Ryu Goto, Violin Recital 2006 – March 2007


CD/Digital
  • Ryu – July 2005
  • 'Ryu Goto, Violin Recital 2006 – January 2007
  • Live in Suntory Hall 2004 – August 2007
  • The Four Seasons – June 2009

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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