Mineri Yamashita began playing Violin at age 3. She was taught by her late father & by her mother. Since then she has performed around the world, and has received the prestigious 'artist diploma'. Mineri studied at the St.Louis Conservatory as a scholarship student, and was selected for the St.Louis Conservatory Artist Certificate Fellow Program. She graduated from Oberlin Conservatory on a full scholarship, and received the Louis and Annette Kaufman Prize. She attended several summer courses such as JISA International Festival in Canada, along with the International Summer Academy Utrechs Conservatorium in Holland. She attended International Master classes of Chamber Music and Violin at Leggiuno, Casalmaggiore, and Bentivoglio, Italy. She also studied at the Musike Academy at Durham, England. Mineri has performed concertos with orchestras, including the St.Louis Kammergild Chamber Orchestra. She has performed in numerous concerts in Canada, the United States, and in Corbetta, Italy, representing Gli Amici della Musica. She has also performed recitals across Japan.
Mineri is currently performing with her brother in the group "Pacific Modern". He is an accomplished cellist and composer. They perform mainly classical pieces, along with tangos & Brazilian music accompanied by guest artists. She is currently a lecturer for an orchestral workshop sponsored by the Otaku Cultural Promotion Foundation.
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Izuru Yamashita began cello at age 3. At age 8 he also began violin & piano. He was taught violin by his late father & by his mother. Now he is a cello performer, and at the same time is a composer. Izuru graduated from Toho Music High School as cello major. He also studied cello at Toho Music School as cello diploma, along with he studied Harmony, Counterpoint & Composition under professor Nobuyoshi Iinuma, Tatsuhiko Nishioka and Junichi Nihashi. Izuru also studied composition under Mr. Jon Appleton who is the professor of Dartmouth College, US. His composition, violin solo pieces & chamber music, were first performed in concerts in Japan, including at Guest Artist Series hold in Oberlin Conservatory, US.
Izuru is currently performing with his sister in the group "Pacific Modern". She is an accomplished violinist. They perform mainly classical pieces, along with tangos & Brazilian music accompanied by guest artists. They use the word "Pacific" because of the meaning "peaceful". He is currently a lecturer for an orchestral workshop sponsored by the Otaku Cultural Promotion Foundation.
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