AKA Duo | Classical Crossroads between Japan and Poland

JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles, with special support from the Polish Cultural Institute New York, National Institute of Music and Dance, Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, and USC Polish Music Center, proudly presents an exclusive performance by AKA Duo, featuring the acclaimed talents of Japanese violinist Seina Matsuoka and pianist Yuto Kiguchi. Since their formation in 2018, this dynamic duo has taken the European classical music scene by storm, earning top prizes in numerous prestigious chamber music competitions.

For their Los Angeles debut, AKA Duo will showcase their mastery of romantic and contemporary repertoires with a thoughtfully curated program spanning two centuries. The performance will feature works by the iconic Ludwig van Beethoven, alongside Polish composers Witold Lutosławski, Miłosz Magin, and Mieczysław Weinberg. This unique intersection of Japanese artistry and Polish musical heritage promises an evening of virtuosic sound and cultural richness.

Both Matsuoka and Kiguchi have distinguished themselves as soloists, performing with leading orchestras in Japan and Europe. Their collaboration as AKA Duo has further cemented their reputation as rising stars in the classical music world.

This exclusive concert at JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles offers a rare opportunity to experience AKA Duo's artistry in an intimate setting. Attendees will have the privilege of witnessing their performance up close, allowing for deeper appreciation of their technical skill and emotional expression. Following the performance, guests are invited to enjoy light refreshments and reflect on the musical journey.

Join us for an unforgettable afternoon of chamber music at JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles, where the music traditions of Japan and Poland converge through classical artistry.

Program Outline

1:30 PM | Doors Open

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM | Performance

3:00 PM – 3:30 PM | Light Refreshments

*NOTE: Please allow ample time to arrive, park, and make your way to JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles’ Level 5 Salon. Guests who arrive after the performance has begun, or who go to the restroom during the performance, will be required to wait until a break in the performance before being guided to their seats.

About AKA Duo

Violinist Seina Matsuoka and pianist Yuto Kiguchi met at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna and have performed as the AKA Duo since 2018. Currently they are studying with Professor Stefan Mendl, pianist of the Vienna Piano Trio, and Professor Peter Schuhmayer, first violinist of the Artis Quartet. The AKA Duo’s repertoire focuses on violin and piano repertoire from classical and romantic literature as well as contemporary works written for this ensemble.

The AKA Duo won the First Prize and the Audience Prize at the Rospigliosi International Chamber Music Competition in Italy in 2020 and followed it in March 2023 with the First Prize and Special Prize at the Pinerolo Torino International Chamber Music Competition, one of the most important international chamber music competitions.

In July of 2023, the AKA Duo became the first Asian performers to unanimously win the First Prize, the Miłosz Magin Award and the Best Contemporary Music Performance Award at the Third International Polish Music Competition in the chamber music category. Following on this success they were invited to perform at concerts and festivals across Europe and the United States during the 2024-2025 concert season including, among others, at the Paderewski Festival in Paso Robles, California, Chopin and His Europe International Festival in Warsaw organized by the Fryderyk Chopin Institute, and the Clara’s Flower Album Festival at the Vienna Musikverein.

Violinist | Seina Matsuoka

Seina Matsuoka won the First Prize at the Szymanowski International Competition in 2023, as well as three special awards. This honor builds on her impressive competition circuit record that includes the 2013 Matsukata Hall Music Award, the 2015 ABC Newcomer Concert Best Music Award, the Second Prize at the 2015 Soji Angel Violin Competition, the 2018 Aoyama Music Award Newcomer Prize, the First Prize and Commissioned Work Prize at the First International Music Competitions at the Academy of the Performing Arts in Bratislava in 2022, and the Special Prize at the Fritz Kreisler International Competition in Vienna that same year.

Pianist | Yuto Kiguchi

Yuto Kiguchi won the Second Prize as well as the Classical Sonata Prize at the Khachaturian International Competition in June 2023. Earlier, he was awarded the Second Prize at the Scriabin International Piano Competition in Grosseto, Italy, in 2021, and was the 2020 Best Song Accompanist prizewinner at the Johannes Brahms Competition in Pörtschach, Austria. Mr. Kiguchi has performed with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra, Okayama Philharmonic Orchestra, Sereno Chamber Orchestra, and Grosseto Symphony Orchestra among others.

Photo Credit: © Filip Blazejowski

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