Mebrakh Haughton-Johnson & Kumi Matsuo

Mebrakh Haughton-Johnson is a British clarinettist acclaimed for his stylistic versatility, charismatic stage presence, and deeply expressive artistry. A committed advocate for widening access to classical music, he frequently champions the work of living composers. He has performed at major venues and festivals including Wigmore Hall, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Verbier Festival, and with Chineke!, the Edinburgh and Adelaide Festivals.

In 2024, he made his U.S. concerto debut with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra in David Baker’s Jazz Suite. Highlights of the 2025/26 season include recitals at the University of Birmingham, St George’s Bristol, the Athenaeum, World Heart Beat, Harrogate International Festival, Whittington Music Festival, and Weber’s Concerto No. 2 with St Bart’s Chamber Orchestra. Mebrakh studied at the Royal College of Music and later at The Juilliard School.

Kumi Matsuo is a versatile solo pianist, chamber musician and accompanist. Winner of the 5th Louisiana International Piano Competition, she has also won Second Prize at the 75th Music Competition of Japan, Third Prize at the 22nd Ferrol International Piano Competition and First Prize at the 6th Isidor Bajic International Piano Competition. After graduating from the Toho Gakuen School of Music, she moved to London for further study at the Royal College of Music where she gained an Artist Diploma and a Master of Music in Performance with Distinction. Her study was generously supported by the Charles Napper Award, the Russell Gander Award and the Rohm Music Foundation.

During her study at RCM, Kumi performed Ravel’s Piano Concerto for Left Hand with RCM Sinfonietta conducted by Peter Stark, Schnittke’s Concerto Grosso No.1 with RCM Chamber Orchestra under Vladimir Jurowski and Prokofiev’s 3rd Piano Concerto with RCM Symphony Orchestra conducted by Martin André. She is now on the staff at RCM, working as Duo Coach to the String Faculty, as well as accompanying other instruments.

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