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Duo A&K's profile posted.
Duo A&K
Sister Piano duet by Atsuko & Keiko Ikuta, founded in 2003 in Switzerland. Prize winner of International IBLA Grand Prix 2003.
Since then gave Duo A&K numerous piano duo concerts throughout Europe for example in the Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy, Latvia, Romania and in Japan.
Previously performed with the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra (Japan), Jena Philharmonic Orchestra (Germany) and Georg Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra in Bukarest (Romania).
Produced first CD “Joie de Duo” in 2014, which was well-received at launch. Debut concert in Australia in Sidney in 2020. Produced second CD “KALEIDO SCOPE” in 2021, which received a special award. Founder of A&K Arts Management, which organizes regularly international and intercultural concerts and events with from classical music to popular music.
Atsuko Ikuta
Born in Boston. Began playing the piano at age five. Won the Gold Prize in E/F grades, the Most Excellent Award in the advanced level (duet division) and the First Prize in the senior division at the PTNA Piano Competition.
Attended Die Zürcher Hochschule der Künste in Switzerland on a Rieter Foundation Scholarship after graduating from Waseda University. Studied with Konstantin Scherbakov.
Continued on to complete the master’s course in performance at Conservatoire de Musique de Genève on a Vontobel Foundation Scholarship along with completion of the piano duet course at the same time.
Gained additional experience under the instruction of Alexander Jenner, Paul Badura-Skoda, Mikhail Voskresensky and Pascal Rogé through various lectures, classes, etc. Won the Second Prize and Rachmaninov Special Prize in the 2005 IBLA International Competition (Italy). Won the Third Prize and Cimarosa Prize in the 2011 Cimarosa International Piano Competition (Italy). Previously performed with the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra (Japan), Jena Philharmonic Orchestra (Germany) and Georg Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra in Bukarest (Romania), additionally at numerous Music Festivals like Salt Lake City Music Festival (U.S.A.), Lisbon Music Festival (Portugal), Engadin Music Festival, Frauenfeld Music Festival (Switzerland), etc. Also performed with many soloists from the NHK Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Lucerne Festival Orchestra, Sinfonieorchester Basel, Zürcher Kammerorchester, Sinfonieorchester Kiel etc. in the area of chamber music.
Keiko Ikuta
Began playing the piano at age three. Won the Third Prize overall in the Kanagawa Student Music Contest. Won the Encouragement Award in E/F grades in the PTNA Piano Competition.
Completed the master’s course in music education at the Tokyo Gakugei University. Passed the audition at the “Japan-Europe Cultural Association.” Performed in the concert by the same association (fresh concert).
Majored in chamber music after being admitted by the Die Zürcher Hochschule der Künste in Switzerland. During this period, served as the first concertmaster at the Oper Zürich, accompanist for the second concertmaster at the Tonhalle Orchester Zürich, accompanist at Dübendorf Music School, etc. Won the Second Prize and Rachmaninov Special Prize in the 2005 IBLA International Competition (Italy). Went to the Conservatoire de Musique de Genève on a Vontobel Foundation Scholarship.
Studied in the piano duet course under the instruction of G. M.Caillat, and subsequently accumulated experiences under the instruction of Konstantin Scherbakov, Pascal Rogé, Hartmut Höll, etc. Previously performed with the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra, Georg Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra in Bukarest and Jena Philharmonic Orchestra. Performed at Nordhorn Music Festival in Niedersachsen, Engadin Music Festival, Frauenfeld Music Festival, Okurayama Wednesday Concert, etc.