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The Jaapanes koto player, Mieko Miyazaki, started studying the Japanese Koto with Tomizo Huruya and Sachiko Tamura. After being accepted to the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, her training finished with an invitation to perform as a soloist in the presence of the imperial couple in Japan. She graduated in 1992, and the following year she was awarded the highest distinctions by the national radio NHK-FM.
Chosen by the Japan Foundation to represent Japan during international cultural events, Mieko Miyazaki performed various concerts in Asia, Europe and throughout the USA. Despite her youth she revealed an unexpected talent in lyricism and composition and created several original works for the NHK-TV children's programs.
In 2003, her work "The Current," (CD Columbia Records-Japan) for Koto and Shakuhachi Flute of Dozan FUJIWARA is considered one of the thirty most beautiful koto compositions of all time by the Hogaku Journal specialists, the Kotoby. This recording brings her total to nine albums currently distributed in Japan and, for some, in the USA.
Her compositions have been praised by Miyako Itchu, the famous master of Shamisen, as well as supreme recognition from the legendary Koto performer Mrs. Kazue Sawai who said, "Mieko Miyazaki's compositions really open up new perspectives in Koto music. " Upon moving to France in 2005 as an anonymous musician with an instrument relatively unknown to the European market, Mieko Miyazaki became immediately recognized and soon established herself worldwide as one of the leading figures in Japanese Koto, pushing the limits and capacities of her music and instrument in many different music genres. Besides her solo projects, she collaborates with numerous artists, including jazz guitarist Nguyên Lê, which led to the creation of the "Sayuki" trio with renowned tabla player Prabhu Edouard (CD "Sayuki" ACT), and also the "Miyazaki Trio" with Bruno Maurice (accordion) and Manuel Solans (Violin) (CD "Saiko" daqui/Harmonia Mundi), which was honored by the magazine Trad. She also recorded a magical collaboration with the Corsican voices "Voce Ventu" (CD "Tessi Tessi" daqui/Harmonia Mundi) with a TV documentary When Islands Meet.
Mieko Miyazaki composes and performs live music for the Ariadone Ballet Company "Chez Ikkyu" with choreographer Carlota Ikeda. In 2011 Philippe Chamouard composed the concerto "Pavillon d'Or" for koto of Mieko Miyazaki. She currently lives in Paris, France. |
