Tōru Yasunaga
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese
violin
ist. Yasunaga is an active chamber musician and soloist, and has been a member of the Berlin Philharmonic since 1977, serving as concertmaster since 1983, until his retirement in March 2009.
, Japan
in 1951. In 1974 Yasunaga graduated from Toho Gakuen School of Music
and later studied at the Berlin University of the Arts
.
While still a student he won the First Prize at the 40th Music Competition of Japan in 1971. In 1977 he joined the Berlin Philharmonic, and in 1983 was appointed by Herbert von Karajan
first concertmaster of the orchestra. Yasunaga is also a soloist and chamber musician who appears regularly in Europe and Japan.
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
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. Yasunaga is an active chamber musician and soloist, and has been a member of the Berlin Philharmonic since 1977, serving as concertmaster since 1983, until his retirement in March 2009.
Biography
Tōru Yasunaga was born in Fukuoka PrefectureFukuoka Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyūshū Island. The capital is the city of Fukuoka.- History :Fukuoka Prefecture includes the former provinces of Chikugo, Chikuzen, and Buzen....
, 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...
in 1951. In 1974 Yasunaga graduated from Toho Gakuen School of Music
Toho Gakuen School of Music
is a private conservatoire located in Chōfu, Tokyo, Japan.-History:Toho Gakuen was founded in 1948 in Kudan as a music school for children, and two years later opened the Toho High School of Music, to provide quality musical education to teenage girls. 1955 saw the establishment of the Junior...
and later studied at the Berlin University of the Arts
Berlin University of the Arts
The Universität der Künste Berlin, UdK is a public art school in Berlin, Germany, one of the four universities in the city...
.
While still a student he won the First Prize at the 40th Music Competition of Japan in 1971. In 1977 he joined the Berlin Philharmonic, and in 1983 was appointed by Herbert von Karajan
Herbert von Karajan
Herbert von Karajan was an Austrian orchestra and opera conductor. To the wider world he was perhaps most famously associated with the Berlin Philharmonic, of which he was principal conductor for 35 years...
first concertmaster of the orchestra. Yasunaga is also a soloist and chamber musician who appears regularly in Europe and Japan.