Rising Star Koji Attwood Joins Yamaha Roster
Koji Atwood |
The Kansas native became involved with Yamaha Artist Services, Inc. through his friend and Juilliard classmate, YASI Production Coordinator Makia Matsumura, who encouraged him to try out the Yamaha Disklavier performance reproducing piano. "It was eerie how accurate it was," recalls Attwood, of his first experience with the instrument. Attwood continued to have a good relationship with the piano salon and its staff over the years, participating in various concerts and recitals. "Yamaha's staff has always been quite friendly and responsive," he notes. Regarding the quality of the instruments, the pianist states, "I am amazed at the consistency of Yamaha pianos; I always feel comfortable playing them."
"Koji is the complete pianist," comments James Steeber – YASI Director, "He will come into the Salon with the most amazing original piano redactions, play them note-perfectly, and later the same day deliver a sonata by Scriabin which is sublime. We're lucky to have him on our roster."
Attwood made his solo debut at age 10, and only a year later won second prize at the Young Keyboard Artists Association International Competition. He went on to earn his Bachelor of Music at The Curtis Institute under the instruction of Seymour Lipkin, followed by his Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts at The Juilliard School, in the studio of Jerome Lowenthal.
Attwood claimed second prize at both the Stravinsky and the Missouri Southern International Keyboard Competitions, and was a participant at the International William Kapell Keyboard Competition and the Hamamatsu International Piano Competition. He was an honorary mention award winner of the Seventh International Web Concert Hall Competition, earning him a concert broadcast online during the 2005-2006 season at the Web Concert Hall. Attwood has performed numerous solo recitals across the country.
Committed to the performance of contemporary music, Attwood has given the recent world premieres of works by Cynthia Folio, Hector Morales Martinez and Daniel Ott. He is also a regular collaborator with Mikhail Baryshnikov, having performed with the dancer's White Oak Dance Project and provided music for Baryshnikov's 2002-03 solo tour of the United States. The tour featured new works choreographed for Baryshnikov, while Attwood provided solo interludes as well as accompaniment for the dances. Critics hailed his playing as "beautifully nuanced" and "enchanting."
Attwood's recent performances include a highly-acclaimed recital at Merkin Hall in New York City, and a European debut at the prestigious Husum festival in Germany. He is currently featured, along with pianists Marc-Andre Hamelin, Lev Vinacour, and Daniel Berman on the 2009 "Rarities of Piano" Danacord release, and is in the process of recording his own album of original transcriptions for the Koch International Label.
In March 2010, Attwood will perform Matsumura's piece, Variations on "Kojo no Tsuki" at the Yamaha Piano Salon.
For more information, write Yamaha Corporation of America, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622; telephone (714) 522-9011; e-mail yasi@yamaha.com, or visit www.yamaha.com/yasi.