* En anglais uniquement
Widely known by her first name,
Kuniko Kato is a Japanese percussionist. She studied with
Keiko Abe and
Robert van Sice, and graduated summa cum laude from the Rotterdam Conservatory. Following her studies,
Kato spent a decade working in Europe, where she gave recitals and entered competitions, winning prizes at the Internationales Musikinstitut Darmstadt and the International Leigh Howard Stevens Marimba Competition. In her solo performances,
Kato has collaborated with
Steve Reich,
Toru Takemitsu,
James Wood,
Franco Donatoni, and
Unsuk Chin, and she has become a specialist in contemporary percussion music. She has been a member of various orchestras and ensembles, including the
Saito Kinen Orchestra,
Ensemble Ictus, and
Ensemble NOMAD. In 2009,
Kato gave the first performance of Sound Space Experiment - Steel Drum Works, where she featured
Steve Reich's Electric Counterpoint, arranged for marimba, vibraphone, and steel drums. In 2012, she took the piece on tour to Japan, France, Spain, Germany, Armenia, and Australia.
Kato actively supports music education in her workshops for learning disabled children, percussion masterclasses, and public rehearsals. She records for Linn Records.