Shiori Usui is a composer of
contemporary classical music
Contemporary classical music is Western art music composed close to the present day. At the beginning of the 21st-century classical music, 21st century, it commonly referred to the post-1945 Modernism (music), post-tonal music after the death of ...
, improvising musician and music animateur based in
Scotland
Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...
. She is originally from
Japan
Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
.
Career
Usui's music has been performed by orchestras and ensembles around the world including
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra (BBC SSO) is a Scottish broadcasting symphony orchestra based in Glasgow. One of five full-time orchestras maintained by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), it is the oldest full-time professional rad ...
, Cottbus State Theatre Philharmonic Orchestra, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, A Far Cry, Collegium Novum Zurich and Artisan Trio, and with conductors such as
Ilan Volkov
Ilan Volkov (; born September 8, 1976, Tel Aviv) is an Israeli orchestral conductor, who has been chief conductor and guest conductor of a number of orchestras.
Biography
Volkov's father, Alexander Volkov, was a concert pianist. He studied with t ...
,
Martyn Brabbins
Martyn Charles Brabbins (born 13 August 1959) is a British conductor.
Biography
The fourth of five children in his family, he learned to play the euphonium, and then the trombone during his youth at Towcester Studio Brass Band. He later studi ...
,
Peter Rundel
Peter Rundel (born 1958 in Friedrichshafen), is a German violinist and conductor. A recipient of the Grand Prix du Disque in 1998 for his recording of Jean Barraqué's complete works, he became conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of Fla ...
and
Franck Ollu.
In 2018, Usui's composition "from scratch" was awarded the Scottish Awards for New Music for large ensemble and she was shortlisted for the Twenty Fifth Anniversary Awards by the
Arts Foundation.
In 2017, "from scratch" was performed by BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Usui as a vocalist with conductor Ilan Volkov at Tectonics Glasgow festival.
In 2016, Usui won a publishing deal with Ricordi Berlin.
In 2015, Usui's music "
Ophiocordyceps unilateralis s.l." was performed at the BBC Proms by BCMG and conductor Franck Ollu.
In 2013 – 2014, Usui was awarded the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group/Sound and Music composer-in-residence, and Scottish Chamber Orchestra Connect Fellow funded by BBC Performing Arts Fund, for working with children with additional support needs.
In 2012, Usui's composition 'Warai' received the
Toru Takemitsu Composition Award. In the same year, Usui was awarded a
Civitella Ranieri fellowship in conjunction with UNESCO-Aschberg Bursary.
As an improvising musician, Usui has performed with artists and groups such as
Arve Henriksen
Arve Henriksen (born 22 March 1968) is a Norwegian trumpeter.
Career
Henriksen was born in Stranda Municipality and educated on the Jazz program at Norges Teknisk-Naturvitenskapelige Universitet, Trondheim Musikkonservatorium; he later studie ...
, Ilan Volkov, Rie Nakajima, Lee Patterson, Cato, Grey Area, BCMG and Collegium Novum Zurich.
As a music animateur, Usui has worked as a fellow in the Scottish Chamber Orchestra's outreach and education department, worked in various projects with school children and has had a training with
Musicians Without Borders Edinburgh.
References
External links
1. Biography/プロフィールShiori Usui ''BBC Music''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Usui, Shiori
Scottish composers
Living people
Year of birth missing (living people)